The mixing of protein solutions with that of precipitating agents is very important in protein crystallization experiments. In this work, the interferometry images were recorded during the mixing of two proteins with ...The mixing of protein solutions with that of precipitating agents is very important in protein crystallization experiments. In this work, the interferometry images were recorded during the mixing of two proteins with different molecular weights: lysozyme of -14.6 kDa, trypsin of -23.3 kDa and pepsin of -34.8 kDa were placed in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The protein mo- lecular weight dependence on the competition of the transport process and kinetics at the interface was studied. The concentra- tion profiles of protein solutions were calculated to analyze the mass transfer during the mixing process. It was observed that the mass transfer process is more efficient during the mixing of proteins with higher molecular weights. In addition, the more rapid concentration changes above the interface suggest that convection may dominate the diffusion. The phenomenon of con- vection is higher in the protein solutions with higher molecular weight.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51076128)the Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 2009021110008)
文摘The mixing of protein solutions with that of precipitating agents is very important in protein crystallization experiments. In this work, the interferometry images were recorded during the mixing of two proteins with different molecular weights: lysozyme of -14.6 kDa, trypsin of -23.3 kDa and pepsin of -34.8 kDa were placed in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The protein mo- lecular weight dependence on the competition of the transport process and kinetics at the interface was studied. The concentra- tion profiles of protein solutions were calculated to analyze the mass transfer during the mixing process. It was observed that the mass transfer process is more efficient during the mixing of proteins with higher molecular weights. In addition, the more rapid concentration changes above the interface suggest that convection may dominate the diffusion. The phenomenon of con- vection is higher in the protein solutions with higher molecular weight.