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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
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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.

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.

Related Experiment Videos

  • 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.