TURBIDIMETRIC STUDIES OF LIMULUS COAGULIN GEL FORMATION

The turbidity during trypsin-induced coagulin gel formation was studie d over a range of wavelengths, The range of wavelengths used (686-326 nm) also made it possible to investigate the dependence of turbidity o n wavelength (the wavelength exponent). Using the results from that wo rk, and structural information on coagulin and the coagulin gel from o ther studies, a model gel-forming system was designed that consists of species for which the turbidity can be calculated relatively simply, These species include small particles (small in all dimensions relativ e to the wavelength of incident light); long rods and long random coil s (particles that are large in just one dimension relative to the wave length of incident light); and reflective regions (aggregated material that is large in more than one dimension relative to the wavelength o f incident light). The turbidimetric characteristics of the real coagu lin gel-forming system are compared with those of the model system.