Cold Cataracts: A Naturally Occurring Aqueous Two-phase System
Abstract
The cytoplasm of the eye lenses shows a liquid-liquid phase transition similar to the one observed in aqueous two-phase systems. This phenomenon is known as cold cataracts. We have studied the solution behavior of the main protein fractions that constitute the lenses' cytoplasm using small-angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering. Our results provide evidence that an intricate balance of forces underlines the physical phenomena responsible for the optical properties of the lenses and for the phase transition that is observed as the temperature is lowered below some critical value. These forces include solvent-mediated forces besides the more conventional Coulombic and dispersion forces. This study suggests that solvent mediated forces must be included to successfully model liquid-liquid phase transitions like the ones observed in cold cataracts or in aqueous two- phase systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.
Recommended Citation
P. Petitt and D. Forciniti, "Cold Cataracts: A Naturally Occurring Aqueous Two-phase System," Journal of Chromatography B: Biomedical Sciences and Applications, vol. 743, no. 1 thru 2, pp. 431 - 441, Elsevier, Jun 2000.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4347(00)00220-6
Department(s)
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Aqueous two-phase systems; Cold cataracts
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1387-2273
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2024 Elsevier, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
23 Jun 2000
PubMed ID
10942314
Comments
U.S. Department of Energy, Grant None