Crowding revisited: Open questions and future perspectives

Abstract

Although biophysical studies have traditionally been performed in diluted solutions, it was pointed out in the late 1990s that the cellular milieu contains several other macromolecules, creating a condition of molecular crowding. How crowding affects protein stability is an important question heatedly discussed over the past 20 years. Theoretical estimations have suggested a 5-20°C effect of fold stabilisation. This estimate, however, is at variance with what has been verified experimentally that proposes only a limited increase of stability, opening the question whether some of the assumptions taken for granted should be reconsidered. The present review critically analyses the causes of this discrepancy and discusses the limitations and implications of the current concept of crowding.

Keywords: molecular crowding; protein stability; thermodynamics.