%0 Journal Article %A Graham K. Steel %A Philippa M. Wiggins %T Water and the biology of prions and plaques %D 2013 %R 10.1101/000224 %J bioRxiv %P 000224 %X This is an attempt to account for the insolubility and/or aggregation of prions and plaques in terms of a model of water consisting of an equilibrium between high density and low density microdomains. Hydrophobic molecules, including proteins, accumulate selectively into stable populations, enriched in high density water, at charged sites on biopolymers. In enriched high density water, proteins are probably partially unfolded and may precipitate out when released. All extracellular matrices contain such charged polymers. Prions, which have been shown to accumulate in soils and clays containing silicates and aluminates also probably accumulate in extracellular matrices.Release of proteins follows hydrolysis of the charged groups by highly reactive high density water. This is normally a slow process but is greatly accelerated by urea. Plaques may form with age and disease because of accumulation of urea and, perhaps, glucose in the blood. This favours precipitation of proteins emerging from matrices, rather than refolding and solution. Dialysis should, therefore, interfere with plaque formation and impede the development of some age-related diseases. %U https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2013/11/11/000224.full.pdf