Kinetics of the Precipitation of Human Fibrinogen by ZnCl2 and CuCl2

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Abstract
Kinetics of the precipitation of human fibrinogen by the addition of ZnCl2 was followed by the turbidity at 350 or 500 nm. Fast or slow precipitation occurred depending on whether the metal concentration (CM) was higher or lower than its critical value. In fast precipitations, the turbidity reached the stationary value within about 30 min. From the stationary values of the turbidity the critical concentration could be determined. A sigmoidal increase of the turbidity was often observed at low protein concentrations (CP); the lag time decreased with both CM and CP. At the final stage of the precipitation, the turbidity reached the stationary value exponentially; the characteristic time constant was almost independent of both CM and CP. These kinetic behaviors were consistent with the gelation model proposed to the present precipitation. When CuCl2 was used in place of ZnCl2, similar kinetic behaviors were obtained in many respects, suggesting the similar mechanism of precipitation for both ZnCl2 and CuCl2. Changes from slow to fast precipitation were observed when ionic strength was lowered.

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