Effects of macromolecular crowding on a small lipid binding protein probed at the single-amino acid level.

Macromolecular crowding is a distinctive feature of the cellular interior, influencing the behaviour of biomacromolecules. Despite significant advancements in the description of the effects of crowding on global protein properties, the influence of cellular components on local protein attributes has received limited attention. Here, we describe a residue-level systematic interrogation of the structural, dynamic, and binding properties of the liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) in crowded solutions.

Transient Interactions of a Cytosolic Protein with Macromolecular and Vesicular Cosolutes: Unspecific and Specific Effects.

Cytosolic proteins do not occur as isolated but are exposed to many interactions within a crowded cellular environment. We investigated the associations between a test cytosolic protein, human ileal bile acid binding protein (IBABP), and model cosolutes mimicking macromolecular and lipid membrane intracellular components. Using fluorescence spectroscopy, heteronuclear NMR, and molecular dynamics, we found that IBABP associated weakly with anionic lipid vesicles and experienced transient unspecific contacts with albumin.

Integrating artificial with natural cells to translate chemical messages that direct E. coli behaviour.

Previous efforts to control cellular behaviour have largely relied upon various forms of genetic engineering. Once the genetic content of a living cell is modified, the behaviour of that cell typically changes as well. However, other methods of cellular control are possible.