Life fundamentally relies on non-covalent interactions, which can be categorized as either specific or nonspecific. Specific non-covalent interactions include enzyme-substrate binding and selective ion transport, whereas nonspecific interactions include lipid-lipid and lipid-protein associations.

Role of Non-Covalent Interactions in Living Systems

The strength of non-covalent interactions in biological systems must be precisely tuned, a process mediated directly by the solvent. If these interactions are too weak, the system can experience undesired responses to natural fluctuations in physical and chemical parameters; conversely, if they are excessively strong, the kinetics and energetics of vital cellular processes can be hindered. Consequently, the solvent must balance these interactions, establishing strict physical constraints for life.

Solvent Tuning of Non-Covalent Interaction Strength

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