Water as a Link between Membrane and Colloidal Theories for Cells

This review is an attempt to incorporate water as a structural and thermodynamic component of biomembranes. With this purpose, the consideration of the membrane interphase as a bidimensional hydrated polar head group solution, coupled to the hydrocarbon region allows for the reconciliation of two th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-08, Vol.27 (15), p.4994
Main Authors: Disalvo, E Anibal, Rosa, A Sebastian, Cejas, Jimena P, Frias, María de Los A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cell membranes
Cell research
Chemical properties
Colloids
crowded systems
Cytoplasm
Free energy
H bonding propagation
Hydration
Hydrocarbons
Hypotheses
Interphase
Irreversible processes
Lipid Bilayers - chemistry
lipid hydration
Lipid membranes
Lipids
Lipids - chemistry
Membranes
Membranes - chemistry
Permeability
Phase transitions
Phospholipids
Physiological aspects
Proteins
restricted environments
Review
Thermodynamics
Water - chemistry
Water activity
water interphases
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Summary:This review is an attempt to incorporate water as a structural and thermodynamic component of biomembranes. With this purpose, the consideration of the membrane interphase as a bidimensional hydrated polar head group solution, coupled to the hydrocarbon region allows for the reconciliation of two theories on cells in dispute today: one considering the membrane as an essential part in terms of compartmentalization, and another in which lipid membranes are not necessary and cells can be treated as a colloidal system. The criterium followed is to describe the membrane state as an open, non-autonomous and responsive system using the approach of Thermodynamic of Irreversible Processes. The concept of an open/non-autonomous membrane system allows for the visualization of the interrelationship between metabolic events and membrane polymorphic changes. Therefore, the Association Induction Hypothesis (AIH) and lipid properties interplay should consider hydration in terms of free energy modulated by water activity and surface (lateral) pressure. Water in restricted regions at the lipid interphase has thermodynamic properties that explain the role of H-bonding networks in the propagation of events between membrane and cytoplasm that appears to be relevant in the context of crowded systems.
ISSN:1420-3049
1420-3049
DOI:10.3390/molecules27154994