AGGREGATION IN SUPERSATURATED LYSOZYME SOLUTION STUDIED BY TIME-RESOLVED SMALL-ANGLE NEUTRON-SCATTERING

A model of the lysozyme crystallization process has been given by time-resolved small angle neutron scattering from lysozyme in supersaturated solution. In supersaturated solution larger aggregates (Type I), with a radius greater than several hundred angstrom, co-exist with a much larger number of smaller particles (Type IT), the radius of which is between 25 and 40 Angstrom. The size distribution of Type I is poly-dispersive and that of Type II is monodispersive. As time elapses, the structure of Type I aggregates does not change so much. On the other hand, the radius of Type II aggregates increases with time, but stops at about 14 h, and then decreases. Nucleation occurs at about 14 h.