Apparently anomalous sedimentation behavior in mixed solvent systems with strong interactions between solution components: analysis of nonideal behavior by bovine serum albumin in 7 M  urea at pH 3.3.
The use of the analytical ultracentrifuge to study nonideal behavior of macromolecules in multicomponent systems is discussed, noting the value of interference optics to extend the range of concentrations of macromolecule that may be studied. The choice of appropriate theory in the treatment of experimental data is examined, using a study of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in 7 M urea at pH 3.3 as an example. Under these conditions BSA undergoes extensive unfolding and exhibits marked nonideality, with the binding of approximately 200 molecules of urea per molecule of BSA.
Armstrong
J M
JM
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
McKenzie
H A
HA
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008433:Mathematics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D014461:Ultracentrifugation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry*
D012996:Solutions; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D014508:Urea