Afilliation
Department of Physical Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Abstract
Many biochemical processes such as protein folding or self assembly of proteins are highly specific. Proteins fold spontaneously into a very specific 3-dimensional structure. Proteins also associate spontaneously to form multisubunit macromolecules. These processes occur in aqueous media. The question we pose is what is the role of water in these processes?
Until recently it was believed that the hydrophobic effect, i.e. the tendency of hydrophobic groups to “escape” from the aqueous environment is the dominant driving force for these processes.1
Analysis of all the solvent induced contributions to the thermodynamic driving forces for protein folding and protein-protein association reveals that,contrary to the commonly accepted paradigm, hydrophilic interactions mightbe more important than hydrophobic interactions.2
This conclusion was reached after critically examining the data on the various contributions to the driving forces for protein folding, and protein-protein association. Examples on the role of hydrophilic interactions on solubility of proteins, protein folding, protein-protein association and molecularrecognition will be presented. Thus, hydrophilic interactions not only helps inunderstanding the role of water in biochemical processes, but they can also beapplies to design drugs that bind stronger to their targets.3,4
References:
1. W. Kauzmann, Advances Protein Chemistry 14, 1 (1959)
2. A. Ben-Naim, Biopolymers, 29, 567 (1990)
3. A. Ben-Naim, Molecular Theory of Water and Aqueous Solutions,Part I: Understanding Water, World Scientific, Singapore (2009)
4. A. Ben-Naim, Molecular Theory of Water and Aqueous Solutions,Part II: The Role of Water in Biological Systems,World Scientific, Singapore (to be published 2011)
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