THE PROPERTIES OF THYROGLOBULIN. VI. THE INTERNAL RIGIDITY OF NATIVE AND DENATURED THYROGLOBULIN

Abstract

The rotational relaxation time of native thyroglobulin has been evaluated from polarization measurements of thyroglobulin coupled to a fluorescent dye. By treatment with detergent or urea the relaxation time of thyroglobulin was markedly reduced. The original polarization was recovered on dilution out of either reagent. The disruption of the internal structure produced by detergent was evident by the ability of sulfhydryl reagents to further decrease the relaxation time whereas they are without effect in the absence of detergent. Similarly a time-dependent decrease in polarization was evident in alkali when 8M urea or 5M guanidine was present. In the absence of the latter reagent only a relatively small change in relaxation time occurred in alkali. The changes in polarization have been compared with hydrodynamic methods acertaining configurational modifications. It is apparent that polarization measurements can provide additional insight into the degree of disorganization of the internal structure of a protein molecule. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 04, 1960
Accession Number
AD0257793

Entities

People

  • H. Edelhoch
  • R.f. Steiner

Organizations

  • Naval Medical Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Detergents
  • Dilution
  • Dyes
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Guanidines
  • Measurement
  • Molecules
  • Polarization
  • Relaxation Time
  • Rigidity

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry