Literally since childhood, every person knows,that water plays a very important role for us. Hygiene, cleaning, drinking - each of these integral elements of life is connected with water. Gradually studying the world, the child learns about the role of water in the cell. Perhaps, only from this moment it becomes clear how great its significance is: without water life itself is inconceivable. Due to its properties, it makes possible the functioning of complex organisms.
Роль воды в жизни клетки напрямую связана с features of its structure. Everyone knows the formula of the main fluid of our body. Each molecule of water consists of one atom of oxygen and two hydrogen atoms. They are united in a single whole due to polar covalent bonds, based on the formation of a common electron pair for two atoms. A characteristic feature of water molecules is its electrical asymmetry. The atom of oxygen is more electronegative, it attracts electrons of hydrogen atoms more strongly. The consequence of this is the displacement of the general pairs of electrons toward the oxygen atom.
The role of water in the cell depends on thecharacteristics inherent in this substance. As a result of the displacement of the total pair of electrons, it acquires a polarization. For the water molecule is characterized by the presence of two poles: each hydrogen atom has a partially positive charge, and oxygen - a partially negative. Together they create a neutral molecule.
Thus, each structural unit of wateris a dipole. The peculiarity of the structure of the molecule determines the nature of the connection between neighboring structures. A partially negative oxygen atom is attracted by the hydrogen atoms of other molecules. The so-called hydrogen bonds form between them. Each molecule of water tends to contact this way with four of its neighbors. All the nuances of the structure mentioned determine the biological role of water in the cell.
Hydrogen bonds, characteristic of water molecules,define many of its properties. The connections between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms are particularly strong, that is, in order to break them, it is necessary to expend an impressive amount of energy. As a result, water has a high boiling point, as well as melting and vaporization. Among similar substances, water is the only substance present on the Earth simultaneously in three aggregate states. The role of water in the cell is based on this particular feature.
The inherent ability of water particles to formhydrogen bonding allows the body's main body fluid to dissolve many compounds. Such substances are called hydrophilic, that is, "friendly" to water. These include ionic compounds: salts, bases and acids. The number of hydrophilic substances includes non-ionic compounds with a polarity. Their molecules contain charged groups. These are amino acids, sugars, simple alcohols and some other compounds.
The role of water in the vital activity of a cell is reduced tocreation of the environment necessary to accelerate all reactions. The solution is a state of the substance in which all its molecules can move much more freely, that is, the ability to react is much higher than in the usual form.
Thanks to these properties, water has becomethe main medium for the vast majority of chemical reactions. Moreover, for example, hydrolysis and the whole set of redox processes are carried out only with the direct participation of the main fluid of the cell.
The huge role of water in the life of the cellindisputable. She is involved in all important processes. For example, water is necessary for photosynthesis. One of its stages, photolysis of water, consists in the separation of hydrogen atoms and their inclusion in the resulting organic compounds. At the same time released oxygen is released into the atmosphere.
The role of water in human and animal cells is related toalready called hydrolysis, the destruction of substances with the addition of water. One of the most important reactions of this kind in the cell is the breakdown of the ATP molecule, which occurs with the release of energy, which is used for other vital processes.
Some proteins, as well as fats and nucleicacids do not dissolve in water at all, or this process is very difficult. Such substances are called hydrophobic, that is, "fearing" water. The role of water in the cell and the body is associated with its interaction with similar compounds.
Water molecules are able to separate hydrophobicsubstances from the fluid itself. As a result, so-called interfaces are formed. They carry out many chemical reactions. So, precisely because of the interaction of the phospholipids that make up the cell membrane, a lipid bilayer is formed with water.
Биологическая роль воды в клетке заключается и в her participation in thermoregulation. The heat capacity of water is quite high. This means that when absorbing an impressive amount of thermal energy, the water temperature changes slightly. Such a characteristic of it helps to maintain a constant temperature inside the cell, which is necessary for the normal course of many processes and to maintain a constant internal environment.
Another characteristic feature of the water -thermal conductivity. It also contributes to maintaining the constancy of the internal environment. Water is able to transfer an impressive amount of heat from the area of the body, where it is in excess, to those cells and tissues that lack it.
In addition, thermoregulation is carried out andwater evaporation expense. Cooling is due to the fact that during the transition from one state of aggregation to another hydrogen bonds should break down. And for this, as already mentioned, requires a large expenditure of energy.
The role of water in the life of the cell does not end there.The main body fluid has another property: it almost does not shrink. This characteristic allows water to play the role of a hydrostatic skeleton in a cell. Water creates turgor pressure, thereby determining such properties of cells and tissues as volume and elasticity. It is easy to understand what is the role of water in the cell in this sense, if you look at the trees. The habitual shape of the leaves is created due to increased pressure in the cells. There are lots of similar examples in the organic world. For example, the familiar form of jellyfish or roundworms is also supported by the hydrostatic skeleton.
Water molecules using hydrogen bondsable to connect not only with each other, but also with other substances. As a result of this interaction surface tension appears, which plays a significant role in the transport of substances in the body. Thus, the consequence of cohesion (adhesion of molecules under the action of gravity, and in the case of water, by means of hydrogen bonds) is the movement of nutrients in plant capillaries. Due to the same property, water gets from the soil through the root hairs into the plant.
Also, the force of surface tension makes capillary blood flow possible in animals and humans. Water is involved in the movement of substances and the excretion of decomposition products from the body.
It turns out that the answer to the question "what is the role of waterin a cage? ”is quite unambiguous - it is huge. Due to the basic properties of the molecular structure of this liquid, all the basic processes are possible, without which life is unthinkable. Water helps to increase the reactivity of substances, maintains the shape of cells and organs, participates in providing them with everything they need, is part of many chemical reactions. Water is the source of life and it is definitely not a metaphor. All the main metabolic processes associated with it, it also underlies the interaction of various compounds.
