Continuous isotropic-nematic liquid crystalline transition of F-actin solutions

The phase transition from the isotropic (I) to nematic (N) liquid crystalline suspension of F-actin of average length ł> or =3 microm was studied by local measurements of optical birefringence and protein concentration. Both parameters were detected to be continuous in the transition region, sugg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics, 2003-04, Vol.67 (4 Pt 1), p.040701-040701
Main Authors: Viamontes, Jorge, Tang, Jay X
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins - chemistry
Animals
Biophysical Phenomena
Biophysics
Crystallization
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Protein Conformation
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Summary:The phase transition from the isotropic (I) to nematic (N) liquid crystalline suspension of F-actin of average length ł> or =3 microm was studied by local measurements of optical birefringence and protein concentration. Both parameters were detected to be continuous in the transition region, suggesting that the I-N transition is higher than first order. Thus we report experimental evidence for a continuous I-N transition for a suspension of rodlike macromolecules. Our findings are consistent with a recent theory by Lammert, Rokhsar, and Toner [Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 1650 (1993)], predicting that the I-N transition may become continuous due to suppression of disclinations.
ISSN:1539-3755
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.67.040701