Building up from microscopic basics to observed complex functions, this insightful monograph explains and describes how the unique molecular properties of water give rise to its structural and dynamical behaviour which in turn translates into its role in biological and chemical processes. The discussion of the biological functions of water details not only the stabilising effect of water in proteins and DNA, but also the direct role that water molecules themselves play in biochemical processes, such as enzyme kinetics, protein synthesis and drug-DNA interaction. The overview of the behaviour of water in chemical systems discusses hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic effects, as well as the interactions of water with micelles, reverse micelles, microemulsions and carbon nanotubes. Supported by extensive experimental and computer simulation data, highlighting many of the recent advances in the study of water in complex systems, this is an ideal resource for anyone studying water at the molecular level.

Part I. Bulk Water:
1. Uniqueness of water
2. Anomalies of water
3. Dynamics of water: molecular motions and hydrogen bond breaking kinetics
4. Inherent structures of liquid water
5. pH of water
Part II. Water in Biology: Dynamical View and Function:
6. Biological water
7. Explicit role of water in biological functions
8. Hydration of proteins
9. Can we understand protein hydration layer: lessons from computer simulations
10. Water in and around DNA and RNA
11. Role of water in protein-DNA interaction
12. Water surrounding lipid bilayers
13. Water in Darwin’s world
Part III. Water in Complex Chemical Systems:
14. Hydrophilic effects
15. Hydrophobic effects
16. Aqueous binary mixtures: amphiphilic effect
17. Water in and around micelles, reverse micelles and microemulsions
18. Water in carbon nanotubes
Part IV. Bulk Water: Advanced Topics:
19. Entropy of water
20. Freezing of water into ice
21. Supercritical water
22. Microscopic approaches to understand water anomalies.
AuthorBiman Bagchi, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Biman Bagchi is a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, the Indian Academy of Sciences, The National Academy of Sciences, India, and TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, Italy.

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