The orientational behavior of microtubules assembled in strong magnetic fields has been studied. It is shown that when microtubules are assembled in a magnetic field, they align with their long axis parallel to the magnetic field. The effect of several parameters known to affect the microtubule assembly are investigated with respect to their effect on the final degree of alignment. Aligned samples of hydrated microtubules suitable for low-resolution x-ray fiber diffraction experiments have been produced, and the results obtained from the fiber diffraction experiments have been compared with the magnetic birefringence experiments. Comparisons with earlier fiber diffraction work and small-angle x-ray solution scattering experiments have been made.

The orientation in external electric fields of rod-like fd-virus particles (length ℓ= 895 nm, diameter d = 9 nm) in aqueous suspensions is examined by the electric birefringence method. In aqueous suspensions the negatively charged fd-particles are surrounded by a diffuse Debye cloud of counterions, which is characterized by the Debye-Hückel parameter κ. A special experimental set-up is used to vary the ionic strength of the suspension, i.e. the Debye-Hückel parameter, and therefore the electrostatic interparticle interaction. The birefringence signal Δn is measured as a function of the strength and frequency of the applied electric field in suspensions of very low ionic strength (10-6M-10-4M). At low field strengths Kerr-behaviour is found. From the dependence of the electric anisotropy Δαel on the Debye-Hückel parameter κ it is concluded that the orientation of the fd-particles is correlated to an induced dipole due to a deformation of the diffuse Debye cloud. Saturation electric birefringence values are far from that theoretically expected. This can be interpreted as a destruction of the diffuse Debye cloud at high electric fields. At low field strengths the frequency dispersion below 1 kHz of Δn of the electrostatically interacting fd-virus suspensions shows anomalous behaviour. This negative electro-optic effect is an evidence for the orientation of the particle's long symmetry axis perpendicular to the applied electric field. The dispersion has a positive maximum at about 2 kHz. This maximum could be explained by different frequency dependencies of the electric polarizabilities parallel and perpendicular to the long symmetry axis of the fd-rods

Low shear (γ̇=1 s−1) and shear rate dependent (1 s−1<γ̇<100 s−1) viscosity measurements on aqueous suspensions of rodlike FD-virus particles (length=880 nm, diameter=9 nm) below and above the overlap concentration c* =1 particle/length3 are presented. Properties like intrinsic viscosity [η], the virus concentration and shear rate dependence of η are studied in deionized (‘‘saltfree’’) suspensions and in the presence of NaCl, where the Coulomb interaction between the particles is totally screened. In the latter case, [η] is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions [A. R. Altenberger and J. S. Dahler, Macromolecules 18, 1700 (1985); R. M. Davis and W. B. Russel, Macromolecules 20, 518 (1987)]. As a function of the virus concentration, η follows certain power laws in c. The observed exponents depend here on the applied shear rate. In the low shear region, η(c) can be described by the well known Huggins behavior. An attempt to fit the data by the popular stretched exponential form failed. The variation of η with shear rate is compared with available theories [M. Doi and S. F. Edwards, The Theory of Polymer Dynamics (Clarendon, Oxford, 1986); A. R. Altenberger and J. S. Dahler, Macromolecules 18, 1700 (1985); J. S. Dahler, S. Fesciyan, and N. Xystris, Macromolecules 16, 1673 (1983)]. A theory of Hess [Z. Naturforsch. Teil A 35, 915 (1980)] allows us to evaluate the concentration dependent values of the rotational diffusion constant Drot from the η(γ̇) data which are found to be in very good agreement with the values of Drot, obtained by electric or magnetic birefringence [H. Kramer, M. Deggelmann, C. Graf, M. Hagenbüchle, C. Johner, and R. Weber, Macromolecules 25, 4325 (1992); J. F. Maguire and J. P. McTague, Phys. Rev. Lett. 45, 1891 (1980); H. Nakamura and K. Okano, Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 186 (1983)]. For strong Coulomb interaction among the suspended viruses no adequate theory is available. Therefore, the data achieved under these conditions are interpreted in terms of the corresponding results of the non-Coulomb interacting samples.

Aqueous solutions of rodlike fd virus particles (length l = 880 nm, diameter d = 9nm) are examined by the transient electric birefringence method. A special experimental setup is used, which allows a very sensitive variation of the screened Coulomb interaction between the particles. The birefringence signal is measured as a function of the virus particle concentration and the ionic strength of the solution. For low applied electric field strength it is demonstrated that anomalous birefringence is an effect of the steric and electrostatic interactions between the fd virus particles. It is shown that this behavior is correlated to a decrease of the rotational diffusion constant Dr. In the case of high ionic strength the deduced values of Dr are in agreement with the theory of Teraoka and Hayakawa1 up to a concentration of 8c* (c* = 1 particle/ length3 is the overlap concentration); at larger concentrations the values are significantly higher than predicted.

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