Influences of Molecular Crowding on the Properties and Functions of Biomolecules

Abstract

The medium of biomolecules in a living cell differs remarkably from a dilute solution, and many properties of biomolecules that are not observed in vitro are emerged as a result of such intracellular environments. Molecular crowding which is one of the important intracellular environments changes equilibria and rates of biomolecular interactions. Studies with solutions containing high concentration of water-soluble inert cosolutes reveal influences of the molecular crowding on the structures and interactions of proteins and nucleic acids, providing significant insights not only into traditional biology but also bionanotechnology.