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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Mechanical Separation and Protein Solubilization of the Outer and Inner Perivitelline Sublayers from Hen's Eggs
Published on: January 27, 2021
Mobility of molecules and ions solubilized in protein gels: diffusion in the thick fraction of hen egg white
Keith M Krise1, Bratoljub H Milosavljevic
1Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Abstract:
The thick fraction of hen egg white is a protein hydrogel with an immeasurably high viscosity composed of ∼90% water that can serve as a model system for mammalian mucous membrane. Measurements of the rate constants of diffusion-controlled reactions occurring within the gel (and corresponding activation energies) and electric conductivity revealed that the thick fraction of egg white can be envisioned as a 3D network comprising hydrated protein molecules (held by intermolecular S-S bridges) surrounded by water pools and channels (of nonuniform diameters) that have a microviscosity that is very similar to that of bulk water. This was corroborated by differential scanning calorimetry measurements that revealed that 16% of water is bound to proteins. The melting kinetics of ice crystallites (produced from the freezable water) indicates nonhomogeneous water pool size.
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