Effect of heavy-metal ions on dynamic characteristics of collagen molecules in solutions

Abstract

Effect of heavy (Pb2+, Cs+) and light (Na+) metal ions on the molecular-dynamic characteristics of type-I collagen in aqueous solution was studied using the method of dynamic light scattering. It was found that the dependence of the translational diffusion coefficient Dt from pH solutions has a nonlinear form with a pronounced extremum close to the isoelectric point of the protein (pI 6.0). For pure aqueous solution of protein there is a maximum of Dt in isoelectric point. For collagen solutions with the addition of heavy-metal salts the minimum of Dt was observed near the isoelectric point. This fenomenon is connected with the formation of protein nanoclusters in solution. With concentration of heavy metal ions increasing translational diffusion coefficient Dt decreases, which shows on increasing of aggregation effect. The addition of sodium ions in aqueous solution of collagen containing heavy metal ions sharp decreasing of the translational diffusion of molecules is observed. That can be connected with the rise of scattering particles masses.