Water in the biological systems October 16, 2015

Water in the biological systems

Water molecule is a polar molecule H 2O

• oxygen

◦ electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p4

◦ high electronegativity

• covalent bonds

H-O distance = 0.9584A H-O-H angle=104.5o

• hydrogen bonds

an atom of hydrogen is acting like a bond between two atoms

The liquid phase

• dipole-dipole interaction

• 4 molecules are located at the corners of an imaginary tetrahedron

◦ thermal motions

▪ small lifetime of hydrogen-bonded cluster configuration

▪ picoseconds

The structure of water in liquid phase

• techniques: IR absorption, neutron scattering, NMR... computer simulations => models

◦ hydrogen bonds are continually breaking and re-forming on a picosecond time scale

◦ cluster? the members of a cluster?

◦ to what extent are these structures maintained for long periods?

• the cluster model / “flickering clusters” (Frank and Wen, '50)

• liquid crystalline water (Forslind, '50)

◦ Dr. Gerald Pollack (The Fourth Phase of Water) ?

◦ Dr. Emoto (healing waters) ?

Water in the biological systems October 16, 2015

• the clathrate model (Claussen 1951, Pauling & Marsh 1952)

◦ spatial polyhedral structure with isolated molecules inside

◦ similar to a cage with free molecules inside

• the model of flexible bonds (Pople, 1951)

◦ the hydrogen bonds are not broken, but bent during the reorganization of water

The structure of water in solid phase (?)

• an ordered network spreading on large areas of water

• the crystalline lattice is opened / have several vacancies

The structure of water in gaseous phase (?)

• all hydrogen bonds are broken

• the water molecules are isolated

The Heavy Water D2O

• 2 deuterium instead of 2 hydrogen atoms

• has a density about 11% greater than “light” water

• slow down the metabolic phenomena

• may inhibit the cellular division

• the only known chemical substance that affects the period of circadian oscillations

The semi-heavy water HDO

• dynamic equilibrium between H2O and D2O => more common than heavy water
Water in the biological systems October 16, 2015

Physical Properties of Water

a. Mechanic properties

• density

• surface tension & wetting … surface tension forces vs the attractive forces

◦ cohesion and adhesion

◦ non-wettable surface (hydrophobic surface)

◦ wettable surface (hydrophilic surface)

b. Caloric properties

• specific heat

• heat of evaporation 540... 580 cal/gram

• thermal conductivity (W m-1 K-1) = 0.56 … 0.61

The thermostatic properties of water

• ambient temperature > body temperature

◦ heat IN due to radiation / conduction / convection

◦ overall Q < 0 – mechanism:

▪ the evaporation of perspiration from the skin &

▪ the evaporative cooling from exhaled moisture

Water in the biological systems October 16, 2015

◦ the skin will begin to sweat almost precisely at 37°C

◦ the perspiration will increase rapidly with increasing skin temperature

▪ normal maximum perspiration rate is about 1.5 liters/hour (Guyton)

▪ after 4 to 6 weeks of acclimatization in a tropical climate, it can reach 3.5 liters/hour!

If the rate of evaporation of perspiration is … grams/hour

the cooling rate is … ? Q/t=

Two melting points?

• 0oC – the crystalline structure is partially destroyed

• 30...40oC – the crystalline structure is completely destroyed

Water in Living Organisms

• more than 60%... up to... 90+% body weight of living things

◦ 60% … 65% of human body

◦ some variations being possible related with

age, sex, normal or pathological state, fattiness, intensity of metabolic processes

• The quantity of water in a certain tissue is proportional to its activity in metabolic process

◦ In embryonic tissues, with intense activities 90 … 97%

◦ brain, spleen, thyroid, kidneys 80 … 86%

◦ muscles, liver, pancreas 70 … 76%

◦ cartilage 50%

◦ adipose tissue 30%

◦ skeleton 22%

◦ dentine 10%
Water in the biological systems October 16, 2015

• The roles of water in living organisms

◦ medium where multiple hydrolysis and enzymatic reactions take place (by hydrogen ions)

◦ it results as final product of the condensing reactions and biological oxidations

◦ it contributes in maintaining the constant temperature of organism

◦ it is the universal solvent in the interstitial and intracellular medium where it forms real or colloidal

solutions transported by water

◦ it is the transport medium between organs, using extracellular liquids

◦ the medium necessary to eliminate products of catabolism out of organism (urine and transpiration)

◦ it is a dispersion medium

◦ the main regulating factor of osmotic pressure

◦ it is a mechanical protector for the embryo

◦ a floating medium for some free cells (elements of blood, spermatozoa)

◦ it is the main factor, besides CO2 , in photosynthesis

• The distribution of water in organism

◦ 55% - intracellular water (where metabolic reactions take place)

▪ free water

• solvent, participate in osmotic pressure, transport of necessary substances towards the cells and

transport of residues away from cells, ensures the dynamic equilibrium

▪ structured water

• quasi-crystalline structure - with superior degree of organizing

• an important role in biological cellular phenomenon and in the anesthesia mechanism

▪ bound water (vicinal water)

• a fraction of cytoplasmatic water fixed on proteins by polar hydrophilic groups - plays a

significant role in governing the shape (and thus biological activity) of large folded biopolymers

• unusual properties:

◦ not freezing even at −20oC

◦ no usual properties of solvent

◦ abnormal resistance at dehydration

◦ not transported by osmosis through membranes

◦ 45% - extracellular water (interstitial water and circulating fluids)