Viscoelasticity in homogeneous protein solutions.
We probe the transport properties in protein solutions stable with respect to any, solid or liquid, phase separation as a step in the understanding of transport in the cytosol of live cells. We determine the mean-squared displacement of probe particles in the time range 10;{-3}-10 s in solutions of a model protein. The tested solutions exhibit significant elasticity at high frequencies, while at low frequencies, they are purely viscous. We attribute this viscoelasticity to a dense network of weakly-bound chains of protein molecules with characteristic lifetime of 10-100 ms. The found intrinsic viscoelasticity of protein solutions should be considered in biochemical kinetics models.
Pan
Weichun
W
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-4004, USA.
Filobelo
Luis
L
Pham
Ngoc D Q
ND
Galkin
Oleg
O
Uzunova
Veselina V
VV
Vekilov
Peter G
PG
D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004548:Elasticity; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014783:Viscosity
D011506:Proteins; D012996:Solutions; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D009113:Muramidase