ESF conference probes water's mysterious interactions at molec...(d by them in critical biochemical reacti...)

Date:4/11/2008

d by them in critical biochemical reactions, including those involving docking or interactions between proteins. Water molecules also play a crucial role in ushering key components of biology such as metal ions into cells through permeable membranes, and details of further progress understanding the processes involved were presented at the conference. The understanding of such events could find application in development of medication and design of nanofluidic devices, said Bellissent-Funel.

Such events can only be properly understood by analysing not just the static structure at a point in time, but the dynamic changes over time, and emerging techniques for this were also discussed at the ESF conference, as Bellissent-Funel pointed out. This is difficult to do at present purely by observation, but progress has been made by combining experiments with computer based simulations.

Such simulations incorporate a description of the unusual geometry of the water molecule, which is the source of all the strange and important properties of water. The molecule comprises an oxygen atom with two hydrogen atoms hanging off like Mickey Mouse ears. This gives the molecule an uneven distribution of electric charge, enabling it readily to form weak but significant hydrogen bonds with molecules of both water and other compounds.

Computer models are also being used to simulate behaviour of solutions, in which hydrogen bonds between molecules of water and the solute (substance being dissolved) prevent the latter conglomerating and therefore precipitating out. This is a function of waters interaction potential, which means the ability or tendency of water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules. The ability to simulate the behaviour of interactions between water and solute molecules, rather than just between water molecules, represents an important development, said Bellissent-Funel.

The overall complexity of water interface physics was re
'/>"/>

Contact: Marie-Claire Bellissent-Funel marie-claire.bellissent-funel@cea.fr 33-016-908-6066 European Science Foundation Source:Eurekalert

0 GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference
2. BIO-key(R) to Showcase Biometric Identification Technology at 2008 RSA Conference
3. iPlant Kickoff Conference at CSHL begins tackling plant biologys grand challenges
4. Brown hosts regional bioengineering conference
5. Presidents science adviser to address IEEE International Homeland Security Conference
6. Remarks Prepared for Delivery By Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey At the Ministerial Press Conference
7. BIO-key(R) Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Earnings Release and Conference Call Schedule
8. Sea cliff erosion, hemp construction materials and more at UCSD Engineering Conference
9. First European Lung Cancer Conference
10. Western Groundfish Conference to be held in Santa Cruz on Feb. 4-8
11. Top scientists meet for global conference on stem cell therapy for cardiovascular diseases