Unraveling fluctuation in gelatin and monovalent salt systems: coulombic starvation

Abstract

Fluctuations play a key role in biological systems. Here, fluctuations in gelatin intensify with increasing salt concentration. We find a redistribution of hydrogen bonds in protein–salt systems due to unfulfilled hydration of the charges of gelatin and salt-ions, termed as coulombic starvation. This yielded three regions; no starvation, starvation of gelatin, and both gelatin-salt. The system reaches equilibrium with all charges being partially hydrated. This will aid in interpreting protein–metal ion interactions and designing biomaterials.