Isotropic-nematic phase transition in amyloid fibrilization

摘要

We carry out a theoretical study on the isotropic-nematic phase transitionand phase separation in amyloid fibril solutions. Borrowing the thermodynamicmodel employed in the study of cylindrical micelles, we investigate thevariations in the fibril length distribution and phase behavior with respect tochanges in the protein concentration, fibril's rigidity, and binding energy. Wethen relate our theoretical findings to the nematic ordering observed in HenLysozyme fibril solution.