Biological polyelectrolytes

Timasheff, S. N. Biological Polyelectrolyte Veis, A., Ed. Marcel Dekker New York, 1970. 

One important class of biological polyelectrolytes is represented by solutions of globular proteins. These solutions differ from the synthetic chain-like (or more rod-like) polyelectrolytes mentioned above, not only in shape, but also in other aspects. One important distinction is that they may simultane-... 

Polyelectrolyte solutions have been investigated much more extensively in aqueous solutions than in nonaqueous solutions [1-5]. Since many polyelectrolytes, usually with high charge density, are difficult to dissolve in polar organic solvents, and since there is a great interest in biological polyelectrolytes [6-8] such as proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides in aqueous solutions, the aqueous solution behavior of polyelectrolytes has become a main subject of study. 

Veis A, ed. Biological Polyelectrolytes. New York Marcel Dekker, 1970. 

Bloomfield V, Carpenter IL. Biological Polyelectrolytes. In Hara M, ed. Polyelectrolytes Science and Technology. New York Marcel Dekker, 1993 77— 125. 

The Glvcosamlnoglvoans. An Important category of biological polyelectrolytes, the glycosamlnoglycans. Includes biopolymers (formerly named mucopolysaccharides) which occur at neuronal synapses. In the extracellular volume of connective tissues, etc. Accumulation of these substances In the nervous tissues. Including the central nervous system, of young animals, prevents normal transmission of the nervous Impulse, and Is termed mucopolysaccharidosis. This disease Is very severe and rather widespread, which underlines the Importance of a better... 

In the frame of electrochemistry, polyelectrolytes are defined as macromolecular structures bearing a great number of charged sites. We consider the case where these sites are similar in nature (negative in most biological polyelectrolytes such as DNA, RNA or sulfated polysaccharides), so that the polyelectrolyte, or polyion, acquires a high charge density. Counterions are present in solution in order to maintain electroneutrality or as constituents of an added simple salt which, in turn, introduces a co-ion. 

A. Veis (ed.). Biological Polyelectrolytes, Biol. Macromol Sen, Vol. 3, Marcel Dekker, New... 

The role played by electrostriction at biological polyelectrolytes, such as proteins and nucleic acids, has already been considered long ago. Cohn and Edsall (1943) concluded that due to the charged groups that ovalbumin contains, electrostriction reduces its specific volume by 2.43 % relative to the value calculated from its amino acid content (McMeekin and Maeshall 1952). The specific volume of rabbit myosin, rabbit tropomyosin, and Pinna tropomyosin (three muscle proteins) in water measured by Kay (1960) indicated a volume contraction by 0.028, 0.040, and 0.030 cm g respectively. These volume reductions were ascribed to electrostriction and were proportional to the number of charged groups (Mauzerall et al. 2002) in the proteins 270, 376, and315perl05g. 

Complex coacervates may be formed by synthetic polyelectrolytes, but also by biological polyelectrolytes, such as proteins, polysaccharides, and polynucleotides. The complexation allows for combining two or more desirable properties and/or to provide additional stability for otherwise highly labile functional biopolymers, such as proteins (cf. Chapter 13). 

Benegas JC, Cesaro A, Rizzo R, Paoletti S. Conformational stability of biological polyelectrolytes evaluation of enthalpy and entropy changes of conformational transitions. Biopolymers 1998 45 203-216. 

Biological Polyelectrolytes Solutions, Gels, Intermolecular Complexes. .. 

As has already been stated earlier, biological polyelectrolytes comprise of the important constituents carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids. Section 2.1 through 2.3 are adapted from the forthcomming book of the author title. 

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