The interaction between polysaccharides and other macromolecules VII. The effects of various polymers on the sedimentation rates of serum albumin and α-crystallin

The sedimentation behaviour of two globular proteins of different size has been studied in solutions of polymers of varied structure. That the movement of the larger protein was in all instances retarded to a greater extent than that of the smaller indicated that the polymers investigated had a sieving effect. The ability of a polymer to inhibit the migration of another substance was demonstrated to increase with its degree of polymerization and decrease with branching. Charged substituents in a polymer were found to augment materially its effectiveness in restricting transport.