Protein-Water Interactions

Abstract

Water is one of the most important molecules necessary to sustain life. It is the only substance found in all three physical states. The interaction of water with other substances is critical to most chemical and biological reactions. Proteins also play an important role in many life processes. They provide structure to living cells and regulate many cellular functions. The interaction of these two important molecules plays an important role in determining the functional properties of many food ingredients. The focus of this chapter is to discuss the types of bonding which occur between water and protein molecules and to relate the interaction between water and protein molecules to the functional properties of proteins in foods.