Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Hydrophilic molecules (and portions of molecules) can be contrasted with hydrophobic molecules (and portions of molecules). In some cases, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties occur in a single molecule. An example of these amphiphilic molecules is the lipids that comprise the cell membrane.
Dew drop on a hydrophobic leaf surface Cutting a water droplet using a superhydrophobic knife on superhydrophobic surfaces Water drops on the hydrophobic surface of grass In chemistry , hydrophobicity is the chemical property of a molecule (called a hydrophobe ) that is seemingly repelled from a mass of water . [ 1 ]
In a non-polar solvent, it is the exposure of the hydrophilic head groups to the surrounding solvent that is energetically unfavourable, giving rise to a water-in-oil system. In this case, the hydrophilic groups are sequestered in the micelle core and the hydrophobic groups extend away from the center.
An equilibrium of dissolved substance distributed between a hydrophobic phase and a hydrophilic phase is established in special glassware such as this separatory funnel that allows shaking and sampling, from which the log P is determined. Here, the green substance has a greater solubility in the lower layer than in the upper layer.
The hydrophobic effect depends on the temperature, which leads to "cold denaturation" of proteins. [19] The hydrophobic effect can be calculated by comparing the free energy of solvation with bulk water. In this way, the hydrophobic effect not only can be localized but also decomposed into enthalpic and entropic contributions. [3]
Many other amphiphilic compounds, such as pepducins, strongly interact with biological membranes by insertion of the hydrophobic part into the lipid membrane, while exposing the hydrophilic part to the aqueous medium, altering their physical behavior and sometimes disrupting them. [citation needed]
[3] [1] [7] [8] [9] The Expasy Protscale website lists a total of 22 hydrophobicity scales. [10] There are clear differences between the four scales shown in the table. [11] Both the second and fourth scales place cysteine as the most hydrophobic residue, unlike the other two scales. This difference is due to the different methods used to ...
For instance, if a stretch of about 20 amino acids shows positive for hydrophobicity, these amino acids may be part of alpha-helix spanning across a lipid bilayer, which is composed of hydrophobic fatty acids. On the converse, amino acids with high hydrophilicity indicate that these residues are in contact with solvent, or water, and that they ...