An in situ adsorption measurement method at the mica/protein solution interface is described.
An apparatus especially constructed for this purpose permits direct and continuous measurement of total adsorption (reversible and Irreversible) of 14 C-labelled proteins.
Bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM), extracted from salivary glands, was acetylated with (CH3, 14CO)2 O. The results show the increase of BSM adsorbed on mica surfaces with its concentration in solution and adsorption time. Pseudo plateaux are obtained for all concentrations studied, Indicating the formation of thick layers. The loosely bound fraction of adsorbed mucin is proportional to the bulk concentration in solution. The amount of BSM adsorbed increases in the neighbourhood of the isoelectric point of BSM (pH 3).