Biomaterial Database

Birefringence of tropomyosin crystals. 1988

T Ruiz, and R Oldenbourg

Martin Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254.

The birefringence of tropomyosin crystals was measured in the temperature range 5 degrees-35 degrees C. The experimental results are compared with a simple model calculation based on the theory developed by Wiener for the optical properties of colloidal systems. The difference between experimental and theoretical values is less than 15%, which denotes a good agreement given the simplicity of the model. A value of 0.011 was obtained for the intrinsic birefringence of the tropomyosin molecule. The temperature dependence of the crystal birefringence could be accounted for in part by a change of the unit cell parameters; this change was experimentally observed by others in x-ray diffraction experiments.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008433	Mathematics	The deductive study of shape, quantity, and dependence. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Mathematic
D008962	Models, Theoretical	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of systems, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Experimental Model,Experimental Models,Mathematical Model,Model, Experimental,Models (Theoretical),Models, Experimental,Models, Theoretic,Theoretical Study,Mathematical Models,Model (Theoretical),Model, Mathematical,Model, Theoretical,Models, Mathematical,Studies, Theoretical,Study, Theoretical,Theoretical Model,Theoretical Models,Theoretical Studies
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D001718	Birefringence	The property of nonisotropic media, such as crystals, whereby a single incident beam of light traverses the medium as two beams, each plane-polarized, the planes being at right angles to each other. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Birefraction,Double Refraction,Birefractions,Birefringences,Double Refractions,Refraction, Double,Refractions, Double
D003461	Crystallography	The branch of science that deals with the geometric description of crystals and their internal arrangement. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Crystallographies
D014335	Tropomyosin	A protein found in the thin filaments of muscle fibers. It inhibits contraction of the muscle unless its position is modified by TROPONIN.	Paramyosin,Miniparamyosin,Paratropomyosin,Tropomyosin Mg,alpha-Tropomyosin,beta-Tropomyosin,gamma-Tropomyosin,Mg, Tropomyosin,alpha Tropomyosin,beta Tropomyosin,gamma Tropomyosin