Mesoscopic gels at low agarose concentration: perturbation effects of ethanol

Aqueous agarose solutions at low concentrations (0.5 g/liter) were temperature quenched below the spinodal line to form mutually disconnected mesoscopic gels. In the presence of 6% ethanol, these solutions, obtained by quenching at the same temperature depth as in pure water, appear much more fluid,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biophysical journal 1997, Vol.72 (1), p.388-394
Main Authors: Bulone, D., Newman, J., San Biagio, P.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopolymers
Diffusion
Ethanol
Gels
Light
Models, Theoretical
Scattering, Radiation
Sepharose
Thermodynamics
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Summary:Aqueous agarose solutions at low concentrations (0.5 g/liter) were temperature quenched below the spinodal line to form mutually disconnected mesoscopic gels. In the presence of 6% ethanol, these solutions, obtained by quenching at the same temperature depth as in pure water, appear much more fluid, as determined by probe diffusion experiments. We show by static and dynamic light scattering that this can be explained by the solvent-mediated effects of ethanol, leading to a globular shape of mesoscopic agarose gels, rather than to an extended rodlike structure observed in pure water. Our findings show the significant effects of solvent perturbations on particle condensation and, therefore, may be useful in understanding the role of the solvent in the folding of biomolecules.
ISSN:0006-3495
1542-0086
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3495(97)78678-8