| Abstract: | Nuclear magnetic relaxation times, T₁ and T₂, were measured for a water/ glycerol/albumin system as a function of water content. T₁ relaxation times decreased from 95 msec at a hydration of 52 g H₂O/100 g dry solid to 62 msec at 8 g/100g but then sharply increased to 348 msec at the lowest hydration level (6g/100g). T₂ relaxation times were much shorter and less consistent but generally mirrored the T₁ results. The data supports the suggestion that glycerol can substitute for water at macromolecular surfaces under extremely dry conditions. Implications of this result to work done on the brine shrimp, Artemia, are also discussed. |
|---|