Small angle neutron scattering study of lysozyme solutions

In order to investigate how macromolecular aggregation proceeds for obtaining nucleation and crystal growth, a series of hen egg white (HEW) lysozyme solutions representative of a large supersaturation range have been investigated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). In all these solutions, the signal well corresponds to species of radii of gyration Rg below 50 A. Moreover, the effective values Rg are compatible with a rather monodisperse distribution of species the size of which increases when the supersaturation increases; for example, saturated solutions correspond to dimer populations. The largest size which has been identified corresponds to octomers which seems a limit beyond which nucleation and growth occur. The growth units are larger than dimers and probably correspond to tetramers or octomers. SANS allows one to study kinetic aspects. We observe that when a given supersaturation is quickly established, the radius of gyration increases with time. In the light of these results, it appears that SANS affords a powerful tool to study aggregation phenomena occurring in the metastable zone.