6533b7d6fe1ef96bd1266833
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Mesoscopic gels at low agarose concentration: perturbation effects of ethanol
P.l. San BiagioDonatella BuloneJay Newmansubject
QuenchingMesoscopic physicsSpinodalAqueous solutionEthanolLightSepharoseAnalytical chemistryBiophysicsModels TheoreticalSolventSepharoseCondensed Matter::Soft Condensed MatterDiffusionchemistry.chemical_compoundBiopolymerschemistryDynamic light scatteringChemical physicsAgaroseScattering RadiationThermodynamicsPhysics::Chemical PhysicsGelsResearch Articledescription
Aqueous agarose solutions at low concentrations (0.5 g/liter) were temperature quenched below the spinodal line to form mutually disconnected mesoscopic gels. In the presence of 6% ethanol, these solutions, obtained by quenching at the same temperature depth as in pure water, appear much more fluid, as determined by probe diffusion experiments. We show by static and dynamic light scattering that this can be explained by the solvent-mediated effects of ethanol, leading to a globular shape of mesoscopic agarose gels, rather than to an extended rodlike structure observed in pure water. Our findings show the significant effects of solvent perturbations on particle condensation and, therefore, may be useful in understanding the role of the solvent in the folding of biomolecules.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-01-01 | Biophysical Journal |