Non-covalent interactions[4] are critical in maintaining the three-dimensional structure of large molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids. They are also involved in many biological processes in which large molecules bind specifically but transiently to one another (see the properties section of the DNA page). These interactions also heavily influence drug design, crystallinity and design of materials, particularly for self-assembly, and, in general, the synthesis of many organic molecules.[3][5][6][7][8]
The non-covalent interactions may occur between different parts of the same molecule (e.g. during protein folding) or between different molecules and therefore are discussed also as intermolecular forces.
^Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, Matsudaira P, Baltimore D, Darnell J (2000). "Glossary". Molecular Cell Biology (4th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman. ISBN978-0-7167-3136-8.
^ abLodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, Matsudaira P, Baltimore D, Darnell J (2000). "Noncovalent bonds". Molecular Cell Biology (4th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman. ISBN978-0-7167-3136-8.
^ abAnslyn E (2004). Modern Physical Organic Chemistry. Sausalito, CA: University Science. ISBN978-1-891389-31-3.
^Cockroft SL, Hunter CA (February 2007). "Chemical double-mutant cycles: dissecting non-covalent interactions". Chemical Society Reviews. 36 (2): 172–188. doi:10.1039/b603842p. PMID17264921.
^Brown TL, Bursten BE, Eugene H, LeMay H (2009). Chemistry: The Central Science (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN978-0-13-600617-6.