Structural adaptation during reaction

The theme of structural adaptation during reaction is not Umited to biological substrates. In Chapter 12 we discuss surface chemical reactions and catalysis. We shall then draw attention to the flexible nature of the surface during a chemical reaction taking place on it. " ... 

Can the carbon-based biochemistry of life as we know it function in organic solvents Certainly, many enzymes function in organic solvents, and many organic reactions fundamental to biochemistry can occur in nonaqueous solvents.31,32 However, even enzymes that are active in organic solvents need some bound water to maintain their active structure. Moreover, water is important in other vital biochemical reactions during metabolism and biosynthesis, and water is a product of metabolic reactions. Scientists infer that carbon-based life is not likely to be able to adapt to a pure-solvent milieu unless it has some mechanism to form water from such solvents as alcohols or to produce all the necessary water de novo from biochemical reactions. Are those mechanisms possible, and is there evidence that bacteria could grow in some organic solvent, with or without trace levels of water ... 

The powder obtained with the MHQ technique, which has to be maintained below 140 K to prevent further reaction, is more difficult to handle than that produced by the RFQ technique because of its finer structure. To apply the spectrocopies listed above to such a powder, one often has to construct specific adaptations to sample holders and/or sample compartments, in particular, to get the powder where required, without warming during handling and operation. 

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