The hydrophobic effect can be usefully understood in terms of an interplay of small-scale and large-scale density fluctuations in water, as in LCW theory. This view rationalizes many otherwise puzzling phenomena, three of which we discuss in this talk.   First, we look at dewetting between assembling biomolecules (melittin and BphC), and show how small differences in fluctuation statistics lead to dewetting in some cases but not in others.  We propose that hydrophobically driven assembly may, in some cases, be controlled by biomolecules sitting at the edge of a dewetting transition.  Second, we look at how a large hydrophobic surface affects the thermodynamics of binding of nearby small solutes, and how the changes can be rationalized.  Our findings suggest that hydrophobic surfaces can generically catalyze unfolding.  Third, we report preliminary results on our ongoing efforts to understand how this perspective on hydrophobicity may rationalize certain aspects of amyloid fibril self-assembly.

Fluctuations in water, the hydrophobic effect and self-assembly

244th National Meeting (2012)

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