Reverse Micelles as a Tool to Probe the Synergy Between Confinement and Osmolytes with Respect to Protein Hydration Properties

Abstract

There is a rapidly growing awareness not only that dynamics are essential for protein function but that functionally important protein motions are tightly coupled to hydration shell dynamics. The dynamics of hydration waters are in turn a function of both confinement conditions and the presence of surrounding cosolutes/osmolytes. Mimicking the combination of confinement and osmolyte levels for proteins in the in vivo cell environment is challenging. Here we present results obtained through the use of reverse micelles as a unique medium chosen to represent this crowded environment of proteins. The effects on the hydration properties of proteins encapsulated within reverse micelles are presented, and compared with confinement within Sol-gels. The addition of biologically relevant osmolytes to the reverse micelles and Sol-gels is used to expose potential synergy between confinement and osmolyte with respect to impact on hydration.