Sedimentation equilibrium in a solution containing an arbitrary number of solute species at arbitrary concentrations: theory and application to concentrated solutions of ribonuclease

Biophys Chem. 2004 Mar 1;108(1-3):89-100. doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2003.10.012.

Abstract

Simple expressions are derived describing the equilibrium concentration gradient of each species in a solution containing an arbitrary number of solute species at arbitrary concentration, as a function of the concentration of all species. Quantitative relationships between the species gradients and experimentally observable signal gradients are presented. The expressions are model-free and take into account both attractive and repulsive interactions between all species. In order to analyze data obtained from strongly nonideal solutions, a statistical thermodynamic model for repulsive solute-solute interactions is required. The relations obtained are utilized to analyze the dependence of the equilibrium gradient of ribonuclease A in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, upon total protein concentration. Experimental results are interpreted in the context of a model for weak self-association leading to the formation of significant amounts of oligomers at total protein concentrations exceeding 25 g/l.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention
  • Dimerization
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Weight
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / chemistry*
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Thermodynamics
  • Ultracentrifugation / methods

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Solutions
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic