"Water, water everywhere... and its effect on macromolecular interactions"
Peter Butko,
G30 Designated Professor
Department of Chemistry (SA 318-1)，Graduate School of Science
Nagoya University，Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku，Nagoya 464-8602
Japan
My lecture belongs to the broad field of physical biochemistry, which is at
the crossroads between physics, chemistry, and biology. Almost all biochemistry
occurs in aqueous environment, but water molecules are not just innocent bystanders,
as many incorrectly assume. Using basic scientific concepts such as osmotic pressure,
hydration forces, chemical potential, and free energy, I will show how water actively
influences physical interactions between molecules including those between enzymes
and their substrates, thus controlling rates of important biochemical reactions. The
lecture is designed for broad audience: researchers in the fields of supramolecular
structures, polymer self-assembly, and protein interactions will find it of interest; it
will be accessible to all levels--from faculty members to postdocs, graduate students
and even higher level undergraduate students.