[Spectroscopic study of conformational changes in proteins in aqueous solutions and mixed solvents]

The character of temperature changes of the absorption spectrum of water in protein solutions is the evidence of conformational changes of protein macromolecules. Along with the denaturation processes changes are also clearly seen at predenaturation stage. These changes involve a break of hydrophobic bonds in protein molecules and subsequent exponing of non-polar radicals into water. Thermodynamic characteristics of conformational changes of some proteins in aqueous solutions and water-organic mixtures are determined.