Dynamics of Water in Biological Recognition

Almost all biological macromoleculess proteins (enzymes) and DNAs are inactive in the absence of water. Hydration of a protein/enzyme is particularly important for the stability of the structure and for the function, especially the recognition at a specific site. This role of hydration in enzyme catalysis is well known and has recently been reviewed in a number of publications. In one of these studies it was shown that the dehydration of a protein, which makes it more rigid and increases its denaturation temperature, is correlated with the loss of its physiological function