Critical micelle concentration (CMC): Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Micelle phospholipids.png|thumb|right|250px|Schematic of a phospholipid micelle]] | |||
'''Critical micelle concentration (CMC)''' is defined as the concentration of detergents above which micelles are spontaneously formed. The CMC is important in biology because at concentrations above it the detergents form complexes with lipophilic proteins. Below this borderline, detergents merely partition into membranes without solubilising membrane proteins. | '''Critical micelle concentration (CMC)''' is defined as the concentration of detergents above which micelles are spontaneously formed. The CMC is important in biology because at concentrations above it the detergents form complexes with lipophilic proteins. Below this borderline, detergents merely partition into membranes without solubilising membrane proteins. | ||
Revision as of 13:02, 28 July 2009
Critical micelle concentration (CMC) is defined as the concentration of detergents above which micelles are spontaneously formed. The CMC is important in biology because at concentrations above it the detergents form complexes with lipophilic proteins. Below this borderline, detergents merely partition into membranes without solubilising membrane proteins.
