Biothermodynamics and calorimetric methods
Recent calorimetric work in some areas of biothermodynamics is surveyed. Work on simple model compounds largely concentrates on solute-water interactions. A special attention is given to hydrophobic interactions and accompanying heat capacity changes. Current calorimetric work on biochemical compounds and assemblies of compounds mainly involve different kinds of non-covalent binding and association processes and DSC measurements relating to the structural stability of biopolymers and lipid aggregates. There is an increasing amount of work done on living cells where, however, calorimeters largely are used as monitors for biological events rather than as tools for recording thermodynamic quantities.