The Complex Nature of Thermal Phase Transitions in Albumin Solutions

Abstract

Dielectric and optical methods were used to reveal the complex nature of globule–coil–coil associate phase transitions in solutions of human serum albumin. The impedancemetric and nephelometric curves of temperature dependences of the parameters of the phase transitions in albumin that was introduced into the standard saline were obtained. Impedancemetry revealed a two-stage mechanism of the globule–coil phase transition, and nephelometry established a two-stage mechanism of the coil–coil associate phase transition. The concentration dependences of the critical indices and temperatures were determined for both phase transitions.