Specific cellular water dynamics observed in vivo by neutron scattering and NMR

• DOI: 10.1039/c0cp01048k
• Publication Date: 2010-08-17T10:42:47Z
• Authors: Marion Jasnin; Andreas Stadler; Moeava Tehei; Giuseppe Zaccai
• Keywords: Nanosecond; Dynamics

Neutron scattering, by using deuterium labelling, revealed how intracellular water dynamics, measured in vivo E. coli, human red blood cells and the extreme halophile, Haloarcula marismortui, depends on cell type nature of cytoplasm. The method uniquely permits determination motions molecular length (approximately ångstrøm) time (pico- to nanosecond) scales. In bacterial cells, beyond hydration shells cytoplasmic macromolecules membrane faces flows as freely liquid water. It is not "tamed" confinement. contrast, halophile archaeon, addition free an component was observed with significantly slowed down translational diffusion. results are discussed compared observations coli marismortui deuteron spin relaxation NMR--a that sensitive rotational dynamics a wide range