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Volumetric Properties of Biomolecular Systems

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Encyclopedia of Biophysics

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Synonyms

Compressibility; Expansibility; Hydration; Lipids; Molecular interactions; Nucleic acids; Pressure; Proteins; Thermodynamics; Volume

Definition

The partial molar volume of a solute is the pressure derivative of its chemical potential, while the partial molar expansibility and compressibility represent, respectively, the temperature and pressure derivatives of the partial molar volume. These volumetric parameters cumulatively reflect and, thus, can be used to characterize the plethora of intra- and intermolecular interactions stabilizing biomolecular systems and driving their recognition events. Hydration is an elusive component of such interactions that, nevertheless, frequently contributes the lion’s share to the energetics of biomolecular stability and recognition.

Thermodynamic Considerations

Observables.Pressure and temperature are both fundamental thermodynamic variables. However, the use of pressure in biophysical studies is more limited compared to that of temperature...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Tigran V. Chalikian & Robert B. Macgregor Jr.

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  1. Tigran V. Chalikian
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  2. Robert B. Macgregor Jr.
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Correspondence to Tigran V. Chalikian .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Leicester MRC Centre, Leicester, United Kingdom

    Gordon Roberts

  2. Dept Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

    Anthony Watts

Section Editor information

  1. School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Alan Cooper

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Chalikian, T.V., Macgregor, R.B. (2018). Volumetric Properties of Biomolecular Systems. In: Roberts, G., Watts, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Biophysics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35943-9_10071-1

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