Langmuir, Vol.18, No.18, 6887-6895, 2002
Surface rheological properties of native and S-ovalbumin are correlated with the development of an intermolecular beta-sheet network at the air-water interface
Polarization-modulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), ellipsometry, and shear elastic constant measurements were used to study the adsorption and the behavior of ovalbumin and S-ovalbumin at the air-water interface at different values of the subphase pH. Native and S-ovalbumin exhibited similar behaviors, with a maximum plateau value of the shear elastic constant near the isoelectric pH of the protein. However, higher surface concentration values were reached with S-ovalbumin in low net charge conditions, which suggest adsorption of aggregates or multilayer adsorption. For both proteins, the statistical analysis of PM-IRRAS spectra demonstrated that the aging of the interfacial film and the increase of the shear elastic constant were correlated with a significant increase in the relative contribution of intermolecular beta-sheets in the amide I band with time. This increase was significantly faster at low pH values. At the same pH value and age of the interface, the relative contribution of intermolecular P-sheets was significantly higher for S-ovalbumin.