Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
10:03
The Preparation of Electrohydrodynamic Bridges from Polar Dielectric Liquids
Published on: September 30, 2014
Halogen-water-hydrogen bridges in biomolecules
Peng Zhou1, Jing Lv, Jianwei Zou
1Key Laboratory for Molecular Design and Nutrition Engineering, Ningbo Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University, Ningbo 315100, China.
Journal of Structural Biology
|October 20, 2009
Summary
Researchers discovered a new interaction, the halogen-water-hydrogen bridge (XWH bridge), which enhances biomolecular stability and recognition. This finding has implications for drug design and biological engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Chemical Biology
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Water's critical role in biological systems is well-established.
- Existing knowledge focuses on water-mediated hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) interactions.
- Novel intermolecular interactions influencing biomolecular behavior require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and characterize a novel interaction termed the halogen-water-hydrogen bridge (XWH bridge).
- To elucidate the structural and energetic properties of XWH bridges.
- To explore the biological significance of XWH bridges in biomolecular systems.
Main Methods:
- Quantum mechanical analysis of model and real systems.
- Analysis of crystal structures to survey XWH bridge occurrences.
- Comparison of XWH bridge stability with other water-involved interactions.
Main Results:
- XWH bridges involve halogen bonding (X-bonding) replacing a water-mediated H-bond.
- XWH bridges exhibit stronger directionality and often occur in multifurcated forms.
- XWH bridges demonstrate superior thermodynamic stability compared to other water interactions, enhanced by cooperative X-bonding and H-bonding.
- Crystal structure surveys confirm the prevalence and importance of XWH bridges.
Conclusions:
- XWH bridges are a significant factor in stabilizing biomolecular conformations.
- XWH bridges play a crucial role in mediating molecular recognition and binding events, including protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, and receptor-ligand interactions.
- The findings suggest potential applications of XWH bridges in drug design and biological engineering.
Related Concept Videos
01:04Hydrogen Bonds
A hydrogen bond is formed when a weakly positive hydrogen atom already bonded to one electronegative atom (for example, the oxygen in the water molecule) is attracted to another electronegative atom from another polar molecule, such as water (H2O), hydrogen fluoride (HF), or ammonia (NH3). The huge electronegativity difference between the H atom (2.1) and the atom to which it is bonded (4.0 for an F atom, 3.5 for an O atom, or 3.0 for an N atom), combined with the very small size of an H atom...
00:26Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen BondsHydrogen bonds are weak attractions between atoms that have formed other chemical bonds. One of these atoms is electronegative, like oxygen, and has a partial negative charge. The other is a hydrogen atom that has bonded with another electronegative atom and has a partial positive charge.Hydrogen Bonds Control the World!Because hydrogen has very weak electronegativity when it binds with a strongly electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, electrons in the bond are...
01:01Introduction to Chemical Bonds
Chemical Bonds
The electrons of the outermost energy level determine the energetic stability of the atom and its tendency to form chemical bonds with other atoms. The innermost electron shell has a maximum capacity of two electrons, but the next two electron shells can each have a maximum of eight electrons. This is known as the octet rule, which states that, with the exception of the innermost shell, atoms are most stable energetically when they have eight electrons in their valence shell, the...
The electrons of the outermost energy level determine the energetic stability of the atom and its tendency to form chemical bonds with other atoms. The innermost electron shell has a maximum capacity of two electrons, but the next two electron shells can each have a maximum of eight electrons. This is known as the octet rule, which states that, with the exception of the innermost shell, atoms are most stable energetically when they have eight electrons in their valence shell, the...
02:41Formation of Halohydrin from Alkenes
An alkene, such as propene, reacts with bromine in the presence of water to yield a halohydrin. Halohydrins contain a halogen and a hydroxyl group attached to adjacent carbons. When the halogen is bromine, it is called a bromohydrin, while a chlorohydrin has chlorine as the halogen.
02:35Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules
Noncovalent attractions are associations within and between molecules that influence the shape and structural stability of complexes. These interactions differ from covalent bonding in that they do not involve sharing of electrons.
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...
02:35Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules
Noncovalent attractions are associations within and between molecules that influence the shape and structural stability of complexes. These interactions differ from covalent bonding in that they do not involve sharing of electrons.
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...