Catálogo de publicaciones - libros

This review begins with a summary of the critical evidence disproving the traditional membrane theory and its modification, the membrane-pump theory – as well as their underlying postulations of (1) free cell water, (2) free cell K^+, and (3) ‘native’-proteins being truly native. Next, the essence of the unifying association-induction hypothesis is described, starting with the re-introduction of the concept of protoplasm (and of colloid) under a new definition. Protoplasms represent diverse cooperative assemblies of protein-water-ion – maintained with ATP and helpers – at a high-(negative)-energy-low-entropy state called the resting living state . Removal of ATP could trigger its auto-cooperative transition into the low-(negative)-energy-high-entropy active living state or death state . As the largest component of protoplasm, cell water in the resting living state exists as polarized-oriented multilayers on arrays of some fully extended protein chains. Each of these fully extended protein chains carries at proper distance apart alternatingly negatively charged backbone carbonyl groups (as N sites) and positively charged backbone imino group (as P sites) in what is called a NP-NP-NP system of living protoplasm. In contrast, a checkerboard of alternating N and P sites on the surface of salt crystals is called a NP surface. The review describes how eight physiological attributes of living protoplasm were duplicated by positive model (extroverts) systems but not duplicated or weakly duplicated by negative model (introverts) systems. The review then goes into more focused discussion on (1) water vapor sorption at near saturation vapor pressure and on (2) solute exclusion. Both offer model-independent quantitative data on polarized-oriented water. Water-vapor sorption at physiological vapor pressure (p/p_o = 0.996) of living frog muscle cells was shown to match quantitatively vapor sorption of model systems containing exclusively or nearly exclusively fully extended polypeptide (e.g., polyglycine, polyglycine-D,L-alanine) or equivalent (e.g., PEO, PEG, PVP). The new Null-Point Method of Ling and Hu made studies at this extremely high vapor pressure easily feasible. Solute exclusion in living cells and model systems is the next subject reviewed in some detail, centering around Ling’s 1993 quantitative theory of solute distribution in polarized-oriented water. It is shown that the theory correctly predicts size dependency of the q-values of molecules as small as water to molecules as large as raffinose. But this is true only in cases where the excess water-to-water interaction energy is high enough as in living frog muscle (e.g., 126 cal/mole) and in water dominated by the more powerful extrovert models (e.g., gelatin, NaOH-denatured hemoglobin, PEO.) However, when the probe solute molecule is very large in size (e.g., PEG 4000), even water ‘dominated’ by the weaker introvert model (e.g., native hemoglobin) shows exclusion. Zheng and Pollack recently demonstrated the exclusion of coated latex microspheres 0.1 μ m in diameter from water 100 μ m (and thus some 300,000 water molcules) away from the polarizing surface of a poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) gel. This finding again affirms the PM theory in a spectacular fashion. Yet at the time of its publication, it had no clear-cut theoretical foundation based on known laws of physics that could explain such a remote action. It was therefore with great joy to announce at the June 2004 Gordon Conference on Interfacial Water, the most recent introduction of a new theoretical foundation for the long range water polarization-orientation. To wit, under ideal conditions an ‘idealized NP surface’ can polarize and orient water ad infinitum. Thus, a theory based on laws of physics can indeed explain long range water polarization and orientation like those shown by Zheng and Pollack. Under near-ideal conditions, the new theory also predicts that water film between polished surfaces carrying a checkerboard of N and P sites at the correct distance apart would not freeze at any attainable temperature. In fact, Giguère and Harvey confirmed this too retroactively half a century ago

The temporomandibular articular disk was used to test the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between the sulfur concentration and the amount of water held in the tissue, and an inverse relationship between sulfur concentration and the rate of fluid flow from the disk during compressive loading. Elemental concentrations were measured for sulfur, potassium, sodium, chlorine, phosphorus and calcium in each area of the disk by electron probe x-ray microanalysis. X-ray microanalysis showed high sulfur content coincident with histochemical localization of glycosaminoglycans. Further analysis of the elemental content revealed a strong correlation between sulfur and K^+, suggesting that the predominate counterion on fixed sulfates is a K^+ rather than Na^+. The resistance to fluid flow was measured by determining the cumulative grams of water forced from the tissue at multiple intervals during centrifugal loading. Values were expressed as grams water per gram dry mass and then plotted against time. Multiple regression analysis of sulfur content and water content values revealed a significant inverse, rather than a positive correlation between sulfur content and both the initial water content and the water content following centrifugal loading. Potassium content also had a strong negative correlation with water content. Curve analysis of flow rates revealed that there were two water compartments, an inner, more tightly held water compartment with a slower flow rate, and an outer compartment with a flow rate 2 to 3 times faster than that of

Giant internodal cells of the charophyte Lamprothamnium respond to hypotonic shock with an extended action potential and transient cessation of cytoplasmic streaming. The macro-structure of streaming cytoplasm was analysed before, during, and after hypotonic shock. Streaming cytoplasm contains coherent, cloud-like macroscopic domains, whose perimeter varies from hundreds to many thousands of micrometres. Some domains avidly associate with the fluorochrome 6-carboxyfluorescein (6CF), and others do not. The 6CF-labelled domains are recognisable through many cycles of streaming, despite constantly changing irregular edges. Domain perimeters were described by a fractal dimension of 4/3, the exponent of a power law fitted to a log-log plot of domain perimeter-area. Following hypotonic shock, the stable pattern of coherent domains enters an unstable phase of coalescence, and discrete domains subsequently amalgamate into stable, extended domains. Instability is associated with Ca^2+ influx and Cl^- efflux, and a large increase in cell conductance. The electrophysiological K^+ state, with greatly reduced conductance, is associated with the new, amalgamated stable state. The results support a concept of cytoplasm as a sponge-like percolation cluster, undergoing transition from discrete to extended domains. Results are discussed in terms of published theories concerning co-operative behaviour of supramolecular water-ion-protein complexes

What is unique about the properties of intracellular water that prevent its replacement by another compound? We tackle this question by combining experimental techniques as diverse as Electron Spin Resonance, Thermally Stimulated Depolarization Current, broadband dielectric spectroscopy, and neutron diffraction to a set of samples, namely a globular enzyme, intact plant seeds, and porous silica glasses, largely differing in terms of composition and complexity. Results indicate that interfacial and intracellular water is directly involved in the formation of amorphous matrices, with glass-like structural and dynamical properties. We propose that this glassiness of water, geometrically confined by the presence of solid intracellular surfaces, is a key characteristic that has been exploited by Nature in setting up a mechanism able to match the quite different time scales of protein and solvent dynamics, namely to slow down fast solvent dynamics to make it overlap with the much slower protein turnover times in order to sustain biological functions. Additionally and equally important, the same mechanism can be used to completely stop or slow down biological processes, as a protection against extreme conditions such as low temperature or dehydration

A linkage between intracellular phenomena, involving the structuring of water, is described which associates the polarised multilayer theory with gel sol transitions. Intracellular K^+ ions are revealed to form ion pairs with acid rich domains on static proteins, particularly F-actin. Such structures then create low density water clustering by a cooperative process that is able to influence other sites and so transfer information within the cell

Systematic designs, physical characterizations and data analyses of elastic-contractile model proteins have given rise to a series of physical concepts associated with phase transitions of hydrophobic association and with the nature of elasticity that provide new insight into the function of a number of protein machines, namely, 1) Complex III of the electron transport chain wherein electron transfer pumps protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, 2) the F_1-motor of ATP synthase that uses return of protons to produce the great majority of ATP in living organisms, 3) the myosin II motor of muscle contraction that uses ATP hydrolysis to produce movement, 4) the kinesin bipedal motor that walks along microtubules to transport cargo within the cell, and 5) the calcium-gated potassium channel. The physical processes utilize an understanding of the change in Gibbs free energy due to hydrophobic association, Δ G _ HA , the water-mediated repulsion between hydrophobic domains and charged groups, Δ G _ ap , and stretching of interconnecting chain segments that attends hydrophobic association

At present the biological effect of SMF and LF EMF can be considered as a proven fact; however, the question how such a low-energy of EMF radiation could modulate the functional activity of cell and organism still remains unanswered. Numerous hypotheses on molecular mechanisms of the specific biological effect of EMF have been proposed, but none have provided a reliable and exhaustive explanation of the experimental findings. The oldest hypothesis is that EMF-induced structural changes of the cell bathing solution could serve as a primary target for the biological effect of EMF. As water is the main medium where the major part of biochemical reactions are taking place, it is predicted that a slight changes of physico-chemical properties of both intracellular and extracellular water could dramatically change the metabolic activity of cells and organisms Therefore, extension of the knowledge on the mechanisms of SMF and EMF effects on physicochemical properties of water seems extremely important for understanding the biological effect of these factors, which are realized through water structural changes

Long-range interaction between polymeric surfaces and charged solutes in aqueous solution were observed microscopically. At low ionic strength, solutes were excluded from zones on the order of several hundred microns from the surface. Solutes ranged in size from single molecules up to colloidal polystyrene particles 2 UPmum in diameter. The unexpectedly large exclusion zones regularly observed seem to contradict classical DLVO theory, which predicts only nanometer-scale effects arising from the presence of the surface. Using tapered glass microelectrodes similar to those employed for cell-biological investigations, we also measured electrical potentials as a function of distance from the polymeric surface. Large negative potentials were observed – on the order of 100 mV or more – and these potentials diminished with distance from the surface with a space constant on the order of hundreds of microns. The relation between potential distribution and solute exclusion is discussed

A novel type of hydration of macromolecules in aqueous solution was first suggested by Etzler and Drost-Hansen (1983). This hydration, observed for all macromolecules with a critical mass of >2000 Daltons (MW_C), seems identical with vicinal hydration of solid surfaces, possessing the same characteristics, e.g., thermal anomalies at the same temperatures [T_k] and similar shear rate dependence, as well as slow reforming after shear. Furthermore, the vicinal hydration is independent of the detailed chemistry of the macromolecules and of the presence of other solutes, electrolytes and non-electrolytes alike. Evidence for this poorly recognized and often overlooked hydration is presented

The organism is a dynamic liquid crystalline continuum with coherent motions on every scale. Evidence is presented that biological (interfacial) water, aligned and moving coherently with the macromolecular matrix, is integral to the liquid crystallinity of the organism; and that the liquid crystalline continuum facilitates rapid intercommunication throughout the body, enabling it to function as a perfectly coherent whole