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Molecular Crowding: Physiologic Sensing and Control.

Arohan R Subramanya^1,2,3,4, Cary R Boyd-Shiwarski^1,3

¹Renal-Electrolyte Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; email: ars129@pitt.edu, boydcr@upmc.edu.

Annual Review of Physiology

|November 6, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cellular crowding, the dense packing of molecules within the cytoplasm, impacts vital functions. Cells use homeostatic mechanisms, including phase separation, to manage molecular crowding and maintain physiological balance.

Keywords:

biomolecular condensate cell volume regulation excluded volume molecular crowding phase separation

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Area of Science:

Cellular physiology
Biophysics

Background:

The cytoplasm is a crowded environment impacting cellular processes.
Molecular crowding affects reaction rates, water mobility, and macromolecular complex formation.
Cells possess homeostatic mechanisms to manage cytoplasmic crowdedness.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a physiology-focused overview of molecular crowding.
To highlight advances in understanding the sensing and control of molecular crowding.
To explore the role of phase separation in cellular crowding responses.

Main Methods:

Literature review and synthesis of current research on molecular crowding.
Physiology-focused analysis of homeostatic mechanisms.
Examination of evidence linking molecular crowding to various physiological processes.

Main Results:

Molecular crowding is a key factor influencing cellular behavior and function.
Phase separation, through biomolecular condensates, is a mechanism for sensing and responding to crowding.
Crowding is interconnected with cell size, water balance, tissue architecture, aging, and circadian rhythms.

Conclusions:

Molecular crowding is a fundamental physiological parameter with broad implications.
Understanding crowding is crucial for comprehending cellular and organismal homeostasis.
Further research into crowding mechanisms can reveal insights into health and disease.