THE COMPLEX-FORMATION BETWEEN POLYACRYLAMIDE CONTAINING GLYCINE END-GROUPS AND BOVINE-SERUM-ALBUMIN IN THE PRESENCE OF COPPER(II) IN NEUTRAL AQUEOUS-MEDIA

Complex formation between end group containing polyacrylamide and BSA has been studied in neutral water. Water soluble and insoluble complex es are formed when divalent copper ions are added to the solution. The contacts between protein and polyelectrolyte are achieved via chelate unit formation in which the copper ion is attached at the center. The solubility of the polycomplexes depends on protein!polymer ratio, Sta rting with very low concentration of protein in the system, phase sepa ration takes place. Above the critical ratio of the protein/polymer, t he mixture again exhibits water soluble character. The velocity of the formation of insoluble ternary complexes has been investigated by spe ctrophotometric method at different reaction conditions (preparation o f mixture, ratio of components, low molecular salts, temperature and s tirring, molecular weight of polyelectrolyte and Cu2+ concentration). A hypothetical structural scheme for the formation of soluble and inso luble ternary polycomplexes is proposed.