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Dictionary » H » Hydrophobic

Hydrophobic

Definition

adjective

(1) (physics) (chemistry) Lacking an affinity for water; insoluble in water; repelling water.

(2) Of, or having hydrophobia (literally, the fear of or water).


Supplement

Examples of hydrophobic molecules include the alkanes, oils, fats, and greasy substances in general.


Word origin: Attic Greek hydro- for water and phobos for fear.

Related forms: hydrophobicity (noun), hydrophobe (noun).

Compare: hydrophilic.


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Re: Lipid Bilayers vs Micelles

Yeah, this is an idea that seems to get glossed over some of the time. It seems the natural tendency of molecules with hydrophilic heads / hydrophobic tails is to form micelles, because this is the simplest structure that maximizes hydrophobic/philic interaction. In phospholipids, however, ...

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by squillss
Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:34 am
 
Forum: Molecular Biology
Topic: Lipid Bilayers vs Micelles
Replies: 3
Views: 3887

Sequence allignment questions

Yes, they are all hydrophobic and could be considered as small.

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by JackBean
Sat Nov 24, 2012 8:43 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Sequence allignment questions
Replies: 6
Views: 811

Re: Sequence allignment questions

No, there are only few amino acids marked with : Trp is also red (W) and is not small amino acid. Are alanine and valine small and hydrophobic?

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by TToe
Sat Nov 24, 2012 4:18 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Sequence allignment questions
Replies: 6
Views: 811

Re: Sequence allignment questions

No, there are only few amino acids marked with : Trp is also red (W) and is not small amino acid. Are isoleucine and leucine small hydrophobic amino acids?

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by TToe
Sat Nov 24, 2012 3:46 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Sequence allignment questions
Replies: 6
Views: 811

Re:

... crucial amino acids were (could) not be substituted, but not all identical amino acids are crucial. Do you know, which amino acids belong to small hydrophobic AAs? No because it also appears on the link I gave you below (I'm really confused). In the link below wouldn't all the amino acids be crucial? ...

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by TToe
Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:07 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: Sequence allignment questions
Replies: 6
Views: 811
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