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Related Experiment Videos

Macromolecular crowding as a cell volume sensor.

M B Burg1

  • 1National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. maurice_burg@nih.gov

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry : International Journal of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology
|December 23, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Macromolecular crowding significantly impacts intracellular macromolecule activity, potentially enabling cells to sense volume changes. This review explores the principles and evidence behind this cell volume regulation mechanism.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • High concentrations of macromolecules in cells lead to non-ideal solution properties.
  • Macromolecular crowding and confinement are key factors influencing intracellular macromolecule activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence for macromolecular crowding in cell volume regulation.
  • To explore the physical-chemical principles of crowding effects on macromolecule activity.
  • To present a model for macromolecular crowding in cell volume sensing.

Main Methods:

  • Review of in vitro studies demonstrating volume regulatory changes due to macromolecule addition.
  • Analysis of physical-chemical principles governing macromolecule crowding.
  • Estimation of intracellular macromolecule activity.

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  • Consideration of interactions between macromolecules, water, and cosolutes.

    • Main Results:

    • Macromolecular crowding can lead to substantial increases in macromolecule activity.
    • Crowding effects are significant determinants of intracellular macromolecule behavior.
    • Small changes in water content under crowded conditions cause large shifts in macromolecule activity.

    Conclusions:

    • The hypothesis that macromolecular crowding aids cell volume sensing is plausible, supported by red blood cell and muscle cell studies.
    • The exact signaling molecules and model require further identification and refinement.
    • Experimental verification in intact cells and exclusion of alternative mechanisms are needed.