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A continuous isotropic-nematic liquid crystalline transition of F-actin solutions
The phase transition from the isotropic (I) to nematic (N) liquid crystalline
suspension of F-actin of average length m or above was studied by local
measurements of optical birefringence and protein concentration. Both
parameters were detected to be continuous in the transition region, suggesting
that the I-N transition is higher than 1st order. This finding is consistent
with a recent theory by Lammert, Rokhsar & Toner (PRL, 1993, 70:1650),
predicting that the I-N transition may become continuous due to suppression of
disclinations. Indeed, few line defects occur in the aligned phase of F-actin.
Individual filaments in solutions of a few mg/ml F-actin undergo fast
translational diffusion along the filament axis, whereas both lateral and
rotational diffusions are suppressed.Comment: 4 pages with 4 figures. Submitted to Physical Review Letter