Protein and DNA destabilization by osmolytes: the other side of the coin.
Osmolytes are naturally occurring small molecules accumulated intracellularly to protect organisms from various denaturing stresses. Similar to the two faces of a coin, several of these osmolytes are stabilizing and destabilizing proteins depending on the concentrations and/or solvent conditions. For example, the well known stabilizing osmolyte, trehalose destabilizes some proteins at high concentration and/or high pH. In spite of the fact that destabilizing aspects of osmolytes can modulate many cellular processes including regulation of protein homeostasis (proteostasis), protein-protein interaction, and protein-DNA interaction, researchers have mostly focused on the stabilizing aspects of osmolytes. Thus, it is important to look into both aspects of osmolytes to determine their precise role under physiological conditions. In this article, we have discussed both stabilizing and destabilizing/denaturant aspects of osmolytes to uncover both sides of the coin.
Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025, India.
Laishram R
LR
Singh
Nitesh Kumar
NK
Poddar
Tanveer Ali
TA
Dar
Raj
R
Kumar
Faizan
F
Ahmad
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008744:Methylamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D017510:Protein Folding; D055550:Protein Stability; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014199:Trehalose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D008744:Methylamines; D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D014199:Trehalose; C027451:methylamine