Abstract
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
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bamford CH, Elliott A, Hanby WC (1956) Synthetic Polypeptides: Preparation, Structure and Properties. New York: Academic Press, p 310
Beatley EH, Klotz IM (1951) Biol Bull 101:215
Benson SW, Ellis DA, Zwanzig RW (1950) J Amer Chem Soc 72:2102
Best CH, Tatlor NB (1945) The Physical Basis of Medical Practice. 4th edn., Baltimore: The Williams & Wilkens Co., p 7, column 2
de Boer JH, Zwikker C (1929) Zeitschr Phyisk Chem B3:407
de Boer JH, Dippel CJ (1933) Rec Trav Chem Pays-Bas 52:214
Boyle PJ, Conway EJ (1941) J Physiol 100:1
Bradley RS (1936a) J Chem Soc:1467–1474
Bradley RS (1936b) J Chem Soc:1799–1804
Brunauer S, Emmett PH, Teller E (1938) J Amer Chem Soc 60:369
Bull H (1944) J Amer Chem Soc 66:1499
Cameron IL (1988) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 20:221
Cassie ABD (1945) Trans Farad Soc 41:450
Conway EJ, Creuss-Callaghan G (1937) Biochem J 31:828
Doty P, Gratzer WB (1962) Polyamino Acids, Polypeptides and Proteins. Stahmann MA (ed) Madison: Univ. Wisconsin Press, pp 116–117
Dujardin F (1835) Annales des sciences naturelles; partie zoologique, 4:3642d sèr.
Durant W (1926) The Story of Philosophy. New York: Pocket Books, A Division of Simon and Schuster, reprinted all the way to at least 1961
Eastoe JE (1955) Biochem J 61:58.9
Edelmann L (1977) Physiol Chem Phys 9:313
Edelmann L (1984) Scanning Electron Microscopy. II:875
Edelmann L (1986) Science of Biological Specimen Preparation. Müller M, Becker RP, Boyde A, Wolosewick JJ (eds) Chicago: SEM Inc, AMF O’Hare, p 33
Freedman JC (1976) Biochem Biophys Acta 455:989
Gary-Bobo CM, Lindenberg AB (1969) J Coll Interf Sci 29:702
Giguère PA, Harvey KB (1956) Canad J Chemistry 34:798
Glasstone S (1946) Textbook of Physical Chemistry. 2nd edn., New York: D.van Nostrand
Graham T (1861) Phil Trans R Soc. London, vol 151, p 183
Grove A (1996) Only the Paranoid Survive. New York: Doubleday Dell Publ
Hall TS (1969) Ideas of Life and Matter. Chicago: Univ Chicago Press, p 310
Henniker JC (1949) Rev Modern Phys 21:322
Hodgkin AL (1971) The Conduction of the Nervous Impulse. Liverpool: Liverpool Univ. Press, p 21
Hoover SR, Mellon EF (1950) J Amer Chem Soc 72:2562
Hori T (1956) Low Temperature Science. A15:34 (Teion Kagaku, Butsuri Hen) (English translation: No. 62, US Army Snow, Ice and Permafrost Res. Establishment, Corps of Engineers, Wilmette, Ill. USA)
Huang HW, Hunter SH, Warburton VK, Mos SC (1979) Science 204:191
Katchman BJ, McLaren AD (1951) J Amer Chem Soc 73:2124
Katz JR (1919) Koloidchem Beihefte 9:1
Leeder JD, Watt IC (1974) J Coll Interf Sci 48:339
Ling GN (1952) Phosphorous Metabolism (Vol II). McElroy WD, Glass B (eds) Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, p 748
Ling GN (1962) A Physical Theory of the Living State: The Association-Induction Hypothesis. Waltham MA: Blaisdell
Ling GN (1965) Ann NY Acad Sci 125:401
Ling GN (1969) Intern Rev Cytol 26:1
Ling GN (1970) Intern J Neurosci 1:129
Ling GN (1972) Water and Aqueous Solutions, Structure, Thermodynamics, and Transport Properties. Horne A (ed) New York: Wiley-Interscience, pp 663–699
Ling GN (1973) Physiol Chem Phys 5:295
Ling GN (1977) Physiol Chem Phys 9:319
Ling GN (1980) Cooperative Phenomena in Biology. Karreman G. (ed) NewYork: Pergamon Press, p 39
Ling GN (1982) Water and Ions in Biological Systems. New York: Plenum Press Pullman A, Vasilescu V, Packer L (eds) pp79-94.(2nd Intern. Conf., Bucharist, Sept. 6-11. In:
Ling GN (1984) In Search of the Physical Basis of Life. New York: Plenum Publ Corp
Ling GN (1992) A Revolution in the Physiology of the Living Cell. Malabar FL: Krieger Publ Co
Ling GN (1993) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 25:145
Ling GN (1997) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 29:123 Available via http://www.physiological-chemistryandphysics.com/pdf/PCP29-2_ling.pdf
Ling GN (2001) Life at the Cell and Below-Cell Level: the Hidden History of a Fundamental Revolution in Biology. New York: Pacific Press
Ling GN (2003) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 35:91 Available via http://www.physiological- chemistryandphysics.com/pdf/PCP35-2_ling.pdf
Ling GN (2004) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 36:1 Available via http://www.physiological-chemistryandphysics.com/pdf/PCP36-1_ling.pdf
Ling GN, Hu WX (2004) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 36:143 Available via http://www. physiologicalchemistryandphysics.com/pdf/PCP36-2_ling_hu.pdf
Ling GN, Ochsenfeld MM (1966) J Gen Physiol 49:819
Ling GN, Negendank W (1970) Physiol Chem Phys 2:15
Ling GN, Ochsenfeld MM (1973) Science 181:78
Ling GN, Walton C (1976) Science 191:293
Ling GN, Zhang ZL (1984) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 16:221
Ling GN, Hu WX (1987) Physiol Chem. Phys. & Med. NMR 19:251
Ling GN, Hu WX (1988) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 20:293
Ling GN, Ochsenfeld MM (1989) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 21:19
Ling GN, Ochsenfeld MM, Walton C, Bersinger TJ (1980) Physiol Chem Phys 12:3
Ling GN, Zodda D, Sellers M (1984) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 16:381
Ling GN, Niu Z, Ochsenfeld MM (1993) Physiol Chem Phys & Med NMR 25:177
Lloyd DJ (1933) Biol Rev Cambridge Phil Soc 8:463
Lloyd DJ, Phillips H (1933) Trans Farad Soc, vol 29, p 132
Macalum AB (1905) J Physiol (London) 32:95
McLaren AD, Rowen JW (1951) J Polymer Sci 7:289
Mellon EF, Korn AH, Hoover SR (1948) J Amer Chem Soc 70:3040
Mellon EF, Korn AH, Hoover SR (1949) J Amer Chem Soc 71:2761
Menten ML (1908) Trans Can Inst, vol 8, p 403
Perutz MF, Muirhead H, Cox JM, Goaman LCG, Mathews FS, McGandy EL, Webb LE (1968) Nature 219:29–32
Sponsler OL, Bath JD, Ellis JW (1940) J Phys Chem 44:996
Stirling AH (1912) James Hutchinson Stirling: His Life and Work. London, p 221
Tigyi J, Kallay N, Tigyi-Sebes A, Trombitas K (1980–81) International Cell Biology. Schweiger HG. (ed) Berlin: Springer, p 925
Walter H (1923) Jahrschr Wiss Bot 62:145
von Zglinicki T (1988) Gen Physiol Biophys 7:495
Zheng J, Pollack GH (2003) Phys Rev E68:031408
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ling, G.N. (2006). A Convergence of Experimental and Theoretical Breakthroughs Affirms the PM theory of Dynamically Structured Cell Water on the Theory’s 40th Birthday. In: Pollack, G.H., Cameron, I.L., Wheatley, D.N. (eds) Water and the Cell. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4927-7_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4927-7_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-4926-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-4927-9
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)