Reentrant liquid-liquid phase separation in protein solutions at elevated hydrostatic pressures

Phys Rev Lett. 2014 Jan 17;112(2):028101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.028101. Epub 2014 Jan 14.

Abstract

We present results from small-angle x-ray scattering data on the effect of high pressure on the phase behavior of dense lysozyme solutions in the liquid-liquid phase separation region, and characterize the underlying intermolecular protein-protein interactions as a function of temperature and pressure in this region of phase space. A reentrant liquid-liquid phase separation region has been discovered at elevated pressures, which originates in the pressure dependence of the solvent-mediated protein-protein interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Colloids / chemistry
  • Hydrostatic Pressure
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Muramidase / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Solutions / chemistry

Substances

  • Colloids
  • Solutions
  • Muramidase