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Pressure‐Induced Dissolution and Reentrant Formation of Condensed, Liquid–Liquid Phase‐Separated Elastomeric α‐Elastin
Author(s) -
Cinar Hasan,
Cinar Süleyman,
Chan Hue Sun,
Winter Roland
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201801643
Subject(s) - mesoscopic physics , reentrancy , dissolution , phase (matter) , chemical physics , chemistry , elastomer , elastin , materials science , condensed matter physics , organic chemistry , medicine , physics , pathology
Abstract We investigated the combined effects of temperature and pressure on liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) phenomena of α‐elastin up to the multi‐kbar regime. FT‐IR spectroscopy, CD, UV/Vis absorption, phase‐contrast light and fluorescence microscopy techniques were employed to reveal structural changes and mesoscopic phase states of the system. A novel pressure‐induced reentrant LLPS was observed in the intermediate temperature range. A molecular‐level picture, in particular on the role of hydrophobic interactions, hydration, and void volume in controlling LLPS phenomena is presented. The potential role of the LLPS phenomena in the development of early cellular compartmentalization is discussed, which might have started in the deep sea, where pressures up to the kbar level are encountered.