The ability of molecules to form complexes has a strong effect on solution behaviour.
Actin is a globular protein that polymerizes (joins together many small molecules) to form long filaments.
An apparently simple task is the designed association of protein molecules to form homo-oligomers.
The ability of such molecules to form the basis of a pH sensor is demonstrated.
It also works with integrins, another set of molecules, to form a new and much looser type of tissue structure that allows cancerous cells to move and spread.
Given the right conditions, glycoaldehyde can combine with other molecules to form ribose, which is the basis for the nucleic acids RNA and DNA.
When melted butter is added to a dough, the proteins in the flour immediately grab onto the freed water molecules to form elastic strands of gluten.
For example, one oxygen molecule combining with two hydrogen molecules to form two water molecules is written 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O.
Monomer, a molecule of any of a class of compounds, mostly organic, that can react with other molecules to form very large molecules, or polymers.
By manipulating those conditions - say, with other chemicals, heat, moisture, electromagnetism and so on - they could encourage atoms and molecules to form useful shapes.
Water directs the self-assembly of both natural1,2 and synthetic3,4,5,6,7,8,9 molecules to form precise yet dynamic structures.
