[Electrostatic interactions of charged groups in an aqueous medium and their effect on the formation of the secondary...

Analysis of experimental data shows that interaction of charges in an aqueous medium is satisfactorily evaluated by macroscopic dielectric water permeability even at small (approximately 3--4 A) distances. It has been shown that a non-polar molecule located between the charges weakens their interaction. At the same time interaction between charges situated on the non-polar molecules somewhat increases. An estimate is made of the free energy loss of alpha- and beta-structures of polypeptides, resulting from the insertion of charged groups as well as of the free energy of interactions involving charged groups in different secondary structures.