Water and the Cell - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1402049269 ISBN 13: 9781402049262

Publisher: Springer, 2006

Synopsis

This edited volume deals with the state of water in the vicinity of biological interfaces, both intracellular and extracellular. This issue is of critical importance, for the cell is extremely crowded with interfaces, and as a result practically all cell water is interfacial. The character, or state, of this water may therefore be central to cell function. What is meant by the ‘state of water?’ Few would question that water coming out of a household tap is a liquid, but water in an ice cube is something altogether different: it is a solid that floats on tap water (also known as bulk water). It is water in the solid state. The fact that ice floats is an indication that it is less dense than water. Clearly, the physical properties are different. Water molecules below 0 C form a crystal. In this crystal, the two positively charged hydrogen atoms of water bind to the double negative charges of oxygen atoms of two adjacent water molecules. The resulting crystal lattice is arranged in such a way as to be less dense than tap water, and constituent water molecules are also less mobile.

About this title

Synopsis

This book deals with the role of water in cell function. Though long recognized to be central to cell function, water's role has not received the attention lately that it deserves. This book brings the role of water front and central. It presents the most recent work of the leading authorities on the subject, culminating in a series of sometimes astonishing observations. Water is a subject of interest to virtually everyone. It is becoming increasingly important in health therapy, in the environment, in chemistry and physics, and certainly in cells. Thus, this groundbreaking volume will be of great interest to a broad audience, well beyond those in biology alone. The reader will be richly awarded with insights difficult or impossible to obtain in current textbooks, which generally treat water merely as a background carrier with limited significance.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1402049269
• ISBN 13: 9781402049262
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 363
• Editor: Pollack Gerald H., Cameron Ivan L., Wheatley Denys N.