1991 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 18-23
"Osmoelastic coupling", a new thermodynamic phenomenon which was found by us, is reviewed. "Osmoelastic coupling" is a coupling between elasticity of solute and osmotic stress. When a solution containing an elastic solute such as F-actin is subjected to osmotic stress across a semipermeable membrane, the solute is elastically compressed to produce elastic pressure which counteracts the osmotic stress (osmoelastic coupling). Such coupling preferentially increases the free energy of the solute surrounded by solvent, and above a critical intensity of osmotic stress, the solute takes an aggregate form to elude the effect of osmotic stress (osmophobic association). "Osmoelastic coupling" and "osmophobic association" also take place in a solution in which a macromolecular component is heterogeneously distributed.
