April 2014
Intermediate to advanced
256 pages
7h 42m
English
This chapter starts by considering the unique properties of the “solvent of life”, that is, water. After briefly reviewing its most salient characteristics and providing information on their possible theoretical treatment, the role of water in biology will be considered, especially as far as its effect on the structure and function of biomolecules and biostructures is concerned.
The reminder of the chapter is dedicated to reviewing key biological reactions (e.g., electron and proton transfer), systems (ion channels, bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers) and processes (electron-transfer chains in mitochondria, chloroplasts) that take place and operate in a water-based environment. Lastly, ...