Joint aqueous solutions of dextran and bovine serum albumin: coexistence of three liquid phases.
The phase diagram of the system water/dextran (DEX)/BSA was measured as well as modeled. On the experimental side, cloud points were determined and the coexisting phases were analyzed. The theoretical calculations use an approach capable of describing solutions of chain polymers and of globular proteins with the same formalism. The required thermodynamic input comes from experiments concerning the binary subsystems, except for the polymer blend for which one interaction parameter had to be adjusted. Both sources of information yield the same essential features: the existence of a large composition area of immiscibility, starting from the subsystem DEX/BSA and extending well into the region of dilute polymer solutions. This range is subdivided into three sections: one two-phase area at high polymer content, a two-phase area at low polymer content, and a three-phase region located in between. Measured and calculated phase diagrams match qualitatively; the reasons for the quantitative discrepancies are being discussed.
N. M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences , Kosygin Str. 4, 119334 Moscow, Russia.
Yurij
Y
Antonov
Bernhard A
BA
Wolf
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry
D003911:Dextrans; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine