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Improving 2D and 3D Skin In Vitro Models Using Macromolecular Crowding
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Soft interactions and crowding.

Mohona Sarkar1, Conggang Li2, Gary J Pielak3,4,5

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3290, USA.

Biophysical Reviews
|May 17, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Macromolecular crowding in cells significantly impacts protein stability. Recent studies highlight that while steric effects are important, weak chemical interactions also play a crucial role in protein thermodynamics within crowded environments.

Keywords:
CrowdingExcluded volumeOsmolytesProtein stabilitySecond virial coefficientSynthetic polymers

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Protein Science

Background:

  • The intracellular environment is crowded, differing significantly from dilute solutions used in typical biophysical studies.
  • Macromolecular crowding occupies approximately one-third of the cellular volume available to macromolecules.
  • Crowding effects are attributed to both steric repulsions and chemical interactions (soft interactions).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on macromolecular crowding.
  • To emphasize the contribution of soft interactions to protein stability thermodynamics.
  • To compare the influence of soft interactions versus steric effects in crowded cellular environments.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies on macromolecular crowding.
  • Analysis of equilibrium thermodynamics related to protein stability.
  • Focus on the role of soft interactions in crowded biological systems.

Main Results:

  • Macromolecular crowding significantly alters the available volume for macromolecules.
  • Soft interactions, despite being weak and non-specific, can be numerous in crowded conditions.
  • The cumulative effect of soft interactions can counteract the stabilizing influence of steric, excluded volume effects.

Conclusions:

  • Soft interactions are a critical, often underestimated, factor in macromolecular crowding.
  • Understanding soft interactions is essential for accurately modeling protein stability in vivo.
  • The complex interplay between steric and soft interactions governs protein thermodynamics within the crowded intracellular milieu.