chaotropicadj.
/ˌkeɪəˈtrɒpɪk/, /ˌkeɪəˈtrəʊpɪk/, U.S. /ˌkeɪəˈtroʊpɪk/, /ˌkeɪəˈtrɑpɪk/ Biochemistry.
Designating a molecule or substance that disrupts hydrogen bonds, esp. with the effect of disordering the structure of proteins and membranes; (also) of or characterized by such disruption.
ΚΠ
1962 K. Hamaguchi & E. P. Geiduschek Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. 84 1331/1 From the data of Table I, we may construct a ‘chaotropic’ series for anions.
1983 Science 11 Feb. 663/3 The immunoglobulin is then released by a chaotropic agent or removed from the column by competition with excess peptide.
1984 Jrnl. Cell Biol. 99 451/1 Chloride ion in high concentration has been determined to have a chaotropic effect on intracellular structures and function.
2001 P. Wiggins in Z. Berk et al. Water Sci. for Food, Health, Agric. & Environment 83 Proteins have both positive and negative chaotropic side chains.
2016 W. Stillwell Introd. Biol. Membranes (ed. 2) vi. 98 Chaotropic agents have been successfully employed to isolate some still functional integral proteins.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1962