Abstract
Solutions of lysozyme in mixtures of tetramethylurea, TMU, and water, W, undergo "gelation" above a certain critical composition, at room temperature; the threshold composition for gelation shows some dependence on temperature. Lysozyme gelation in TMU/W has been explained by solvent-induced protein unfolding, due to the protein exposure to a more hydrophobic microenvironment. This preferential solvation can be readily quantified from the study of polarity indicators, serving as simple models for the protein domains. Thermo-solvatochromism of two indicators, 2,6-diphenyl-4-(2,4,6- triphenylpyridinium-1-yl) phenolate, and 4-[(E)2-(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl) ethenyl] phenolate, has been studied in mixtures of TMU-W, from 10 to 60°C. Both probes are preferentially solvated by TMU and, more efficiently, by the hydrogen-bonded species, TMU-W. The maximum concentration of the latter is close to the "critical" threshold mole fraction of water (ca. 0.8.) at which lysozyme gelation occurs. As TMU is added to water the protein, by analogy to polarity indicators, undergoes progressive solvation by less polar, hydrophobic microenvironment leading, at a critical composition, to its unfolding with concomitant gelation of the solution.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1135-1145 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Polish Journal of Chemistry |
Volume | 81 |
Issue number | 5-6 |
Publication status | Published - May 2007 |
Keywords
- Lysozyme
- Polarity indicators
- Protein gelation
- Tetramethylurea
- Thermo-solvatochromism
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry