Conformation zoning of large molecules using the analytical ultracentrifuge

• Published in: TrAC, Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.) Vol. 16; no. 7; pp. 401 - 405
• Main Authors: Pavlov, Georges M, Rowe, Arthur J, Harding, Stephen E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-08-1997
• ISSN: 0165-9936; 1879-3142
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-9936(97)00038-1

A substantial proportion of large molecules made naturally or by artificial means exist as linear chains. In biology this includes DNA, mRNA, many important classes of sugar polymers (polysaccharides) and denatured proteins. In physical science this includes polyethylene, Polyvinylchloride and many important polymers used in plastics and also the many new ones being explored for use in drug delivery. Crucial to how many of these large molecules function is their conformation
in solution (either aqueous or organic), a realm unfortunately outside the grasp of high-resolution techniques such as X-ray crystallography. We have now however devised a quick and accessible method for identifying the conformation type or “Zone” of a molecule: Zone A (extra rigid rod type); Zone B (rigid rod type); Zone C (semi-flexible type), Zone D (completely random coil) and Zone E (compact or highly branched particle). To perform this “Conformation Zoning” requires a few milligrams of material and access to one of the new types of high-speed Centrifuge which are now proliferating in academic and industrial establishments.