STUDIES ON THE PHYSICAL STATE OF WATER IN LIVING CELLS AND MODEL SYSTEMS .2. NMR RELAXATION-TIMES OF WATER PROTONS IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS OF GELATIN AND OXYGEN-CONTAINING POLYMERS WHICH REDUCE THE SOLVENCY OF WATER FOR NA+, SUGARS, AND FREE AMINO-ACIDS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (2) , 137-154
Abstract
The NMR relaxation times T1 and T2 of water protons in aqueous solutions of bovine serum albumin, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly(ethylene oxide) and polyvinylmethylether are reported over a wide concentration range. In contrast to solutions of gelatin and bovine serum albumin, the T1/T2 ratio of the 3 synthetic polymers are close to unity over the entire range studied. When combined with ealier-reported data of water made non-solvent to Na salts, the present data provided the basis for calculating the T1 and T2, as well as the rotational correlation time .tau.c of the non-solvent water. Only a modest increase by a factor of .apprx. 3 of .tau.c is enough to produce water that is non-solvent for Na citrate and sulfate. The new data reconciles NMR data of living cells with the theory of the cell water given in the association-induction hypothesis. The variability of .tau.c of non-solvent water also offers explanations, of apparently conflicting conclusions, on the physical state of cell water from dielectric measurements.

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