DNase and Rnase-Free Water

Water is the most fundamental and universal solvent known in nature. Both the polar character and the hydrogen bonding capability of water contribute to its unique solvent properties. Polar materials dissolve in water readily. In the case of salts, water can readily overcome the electrostatic attractions between cations and anions in the solid lattice. In the case of amphipathic molecules, which contain both polar and nonpolar groups, water will dissolve such molecules if the attraction of the polar portion for water exceeds the hydrophobic interactions of the nonpolar groups.

The use of water that is free of nucleases is important for the investigation of nucleic acid and protein systems. In proteomics research, for example, one such study involves the microarray deposition of water for analysis of protease mixtures, protease-substrate interactions, and high-throughput screening reactions with caspases. Other potential applications can include the use of water in a water/alcohol washing step for a microchip-based solidphase extraction protocol for nucleic acid isolation.

On average, in a biological cell, water constitutes 70% of the total cell mass. Among its other roles in biology, water participates in photosynthesis in plants and cyanobacteria by acting as an electron donor for a manganese-containing water splitting enzyme in photosystem II. A review of photosystem II and the role of water in its function has been published. The role of water in enzymatic processes has been reviewed.