Preferential interaction of lysozyme with solvent components in water + aliphatic alcohol systems

Abstract

The method of differential densitometry has been used to investigate the preferential interaction of lysozyme with the solvent components in water + aliphatic alcohol systems. The density measurements were carried out with a digital density meter at 20 ± 0.01 °C. No significant excess binding of solvent components was detected if the amount of aliphatic alcohol was < 40 wt%. Above this solvent composition preferential binding of water molecules occurs. The denaturation process of lysozyme in water + 2-chloroethanol, water + 2-ethoxyethanol and water + aliphatic alcohol systems is discussed on the basis of the results obtained in studies of preferential interaction, conformational transitions and ultrasonic absorption in these systems.