Aqueous Artefacts: The Riddle of Bound Water,
Abstract
This paper, intended for the general reader, first discusses early ideas about water binding in biological systems. More recent work is presented in the form of a report and commentary on lectures given during a Royal Society discussion meeting, together with occasional references to other literature and to papers given at a somewhat similar symposium in Roscoff. The conclusion to be drawn is probably that although the acceptable definition of bound water is in doubt and the interpretation of experimental data frequently ambiguous, water binding to biological macromolecules to the extent of about 0.3 - 0.5 g.water/g.dry weight is fairly general. Further, there is evidence that the rates of many biological reactions may be controlled both by direct consumptive participation and by catalytic shifts of water molecules attached in and around receptor sites. A current controversy concerning the role of 'structured' water in active transport recalls similar disputes among the earlier proponents and opponents of water binding, dating probably from Overton's introduction of the idea in 1902.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA024643
Entities
People
- John B. Bateman
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research