title: [Mechanisms common to biological macromolecules and gels].
abstract: Functional Biological macromolecules arising from folding, cross-connection and solvation of long chain biopolymers forming three-dimensional networks may be regarded as Gels. Both involve identical internal competitive forces that are selectively influenced by external conditions and conspire to adjust conformations and modulate activities. In spite of important differences in size, chemical composition, polymer bonding, density and configuration, biological macromolecules indeed manifest some of the essential physical-chemical properties of gels when involved in equilibria and rate processes. This result represents a presumptive evidence for common underlying mechanisms in functional molecules and gels. Thus, the present and highly perfectible model explains why and how, depending on initial conditions, a system may respond differently to an external parameter, and similarly to different parameters. Moreover, the fact that any localized change in one of the competitive forces gives to a pressure in the system as a whole provides an explanation for the mechanism of the transmission of information.
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005782:Gels; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D005782:Gels; D046911:Macromolecular Substances
vernacular_title: Présomptions en faveur de Mécanismes communs aux macromolécules biologiques et aux gels.