Influence of Hydrostatic Pressure on the Denaturation of Staphylococcus Antitoxin at 65°C

Abstract

At 65[degree] C denaturation of antitoxin against staphylococcus hemolysin occurs rapidly during the initial part of the reaction. The specific rate decreases as the reaction proceeds, but appears to be independent of the initial conc. of antibody. Hydrostatic pressure (up to 10,000 lb. per sq. inch) retards the velocity of denaturation: this fact shows that there is a volume increase of the molecules in going from the normal to the activated state. Pressure exerts a greater influence on the reaction during the initial stages of the reaction than during the later stages, and the apparent volume increase of activation changes from 39 ml. per mole during the first 30% of inactivation to 16 ml. per mole after 80% of the antibody has been inactivated.