Water in Biological and Chemical Processes

From Structure and Dynamics to Function

Biman Bagchi

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN:
  9781107037298
• eBook ISBN:
  9781107439894
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Biophysics
• Index: Biological Sciences

Building up from microscopic basics to observed complex functions, this insightful monograph explains and describes how the unique molecular properties of water give rise to its structural and dynamical behaviour which in turn translates into its role in biological and chemical processes. The discussion of the biological functions of water details not only the stabilising effect of water in proteins and DNA, but also the direct role that water molecules themselves play in biochemical processes, such as enzyme kinetics, protein synthesis and drug-DNA interaction. The overview of the behaviour of water in chemical systems discusses hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic effects, as well as the interactions of water with micelles, reverse micelles, microemulsions and carbon nanotubes. Supported by extensive experimental and computer simulation data, highlighting many of the recent advances in the study of water in complex systems, this is an ideal resource for anyone studying water at the molecular level.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Part I Bulk water
• 1 Uniqueness of water
• 2 Anomalies of water
• 3 Dynamics of water: molecular motions and hydrogen-bond-breaking kinetics
• 4 Inherent structures of liquid water
• 5 The pH of water
• Part II Water in biology
• 6 Biological water
• 7 An essential chemical for life processes: water in biological functions
• 8 Hydration of proteins
• 9 Understanding the protein hydration layer: lessons from computer simulations
• 10 Water in and around DNA and RNA
• 11 Protein–DNA interaction: the role of water as a facilitator
• 12 Water surrounding lipid bilayers: its role as a lubricant
• 13 The role of water in biochemical selection and protein synthesis
• Part III Water in complex chemical systems
• 14 The hydrophilic effect
• 15 The hydrophobic effect
• 16 The amphiphilic effect: the diverse but intimate world of aqueous binary mixtures
• 17 Water in and around micelles, reverse micelles, and microemulsions
• 18 Water in a carbon nanotube: nature abhors a vacuum
• Part IV Advanced topics on water
• 19 The entropy of water
• 20 The freezing of water into ice
• 21 Supercritical water
• 22 Approaches to understand water anomalies
• Epilog
• Index