molecular thermocynamics in protein-salt solutions

Abstract

we investigate protein-proetin and protein-salt interaction in electrolyte solutions using a molecular-thermodynamic model. To describe the interactions, an equation of state based on the statistical mechanical pertubation theory is proposed. the equation of state includes a new square-well potential of mean force, which implis the information about the protein surface, salt type and specific ions. the potential of mean force is corelated with experimental cloud-point temperature of various protein solutions. the same potential of mean force is used to predict the other thermodynamic proprties of a given system with no additional parameters, the new potential shows a satisfactory improvement in understanding the interactions in aqueous protein-salt solutions.