ANALYSIS OF INTERACTING BIOPOLYMER SYSTEMS BY ANALYTICAL ULTRACENTRIFUGATION

Many of the functions of biological macromolecules are based on specif ic interactions. Extended concentration dependent studies of sedimenta tion coefficients or molecular masses of biopolymers are highly useful for describing the different kinds of association phenomena. These st udies allow one to determine the partial concentrations of monomers an d associates or reactants and complexes in self-associating systems or heterologous associations, respectively. Furthermore, in combination with corresponding measurements of biological activity these data allo w one to estimate the individual activity parameters of components inv olved in equilibrium processes. The study of self-association and hete rologous association using analytical ultracentrifugation, some recent developments therein, and its application to different examples are o utlined here.