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Peripheral proteins associate with the membrane by weak electrostatic bonds, and can usually be solubilized by extraction with high-concentration ______ solutions

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Final answer:

Peripheral proteins can usually be solubilized from the cell membrane by extraction with high-concentration salt solutions such as sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, and notably for cell wall proteins, calcium chloride (CaCl2).

Step-by-step explanation:

Peripheral proteins associate with the cell membrane through non-covalent interactions and can typically be solubilized through the use of high-concentration salt solutions. Salts such as sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, and ammonium sulfate are known to precipitate proteins by neutralization and dehydration, as well as absorption, thus transitioning emulsoids to suspensoids, which can be extracted.

In particular, CaCl2 (calcium chloride) solutions are among the most effective for the extraction of cell wall proteins. The effectiveness of these salt solutions can be attributed to their ability to disrupt the weak electrostatic bonds between the peripheral proteins and the membrane, facilitating their release into solution.

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