‘‘Ordered’’ structure in dilute solutions of biopolymers as studied by small-angle x-ray scattering

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Abstract
Dilute aqueous solutions of bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, chondroitin sulfate, and tRNA were measured by small-angle x-ray scattering. The scattering curves showed a single, broad peak as was observed for synthetic polyelectrolytes, indicating the presence of an ordered distribution of charged solutes. The intermolecular distance evaluated from the peak position (2Dexpt) increased with decreasing polymer concentration and with increasing salt concentration. Except for chondroitin sulfate, 2Dexpt values were nearly equal to the interparticle distance (2D0) calculated based on the assumption of a uniform distribution. The observed relationship between 2Dexpt and 2D0 was in agreement with the proposal that intermacroion attraction is weak for low-charge density particles under discussion. This attraction and repulsive interparticle interaction create a ‘‘secondary’’ minimum in the potential curve enabling ordering to take place. For tRNA, the scattering peak became lower with rising temperature. The fact that only a single, broad peak could be observed was rationalized by invoking the concept of distortions of ordering particles such as the paracrystallinity, and the thermal motion and the crystalline size effect. The correlation hole theory based on repulsive interaction is critically discussed, particularly in light of the experimental fact that the peak position of albumin shifts toward wider angles with increasing number of charges.

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