Hydration and Solute Binding of Protein: Relation to Preferential Interaction

Abstract

Solutes at high concentration, e.g., above 0.1-0.5 M, are often required during purification, storage and analysis of proteins. The fact that high concentrations are required implies that the interactions of the solutes with the proteins are weak, yet play a major role in these processes of the proteins. Interactions that occur at such high concentrations are called “preferential interactions” and are related to hydration and solute binding of the proteins. This short chapter describes the relation between preferential interaction and binding of water and solutes with the proteins.