Structure and interaction in aqueous urea-trimethylamine-N-oxide solutions

Sandip Paul1, Grenfell N Patey

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Summary

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) stabilizes protein structures by interacting favorably with water and urea. This suggests TMAO inhibits protein unfolding by being preferentially solvated, thus protecting proteins from urea's denaturing effects.

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