Osmolyte system and its biological significance

Abstract

The proper functioning of organisms in stress conditions is an axiological exercise. Proteins are vulnerable to denaturation and misfolding under hiked temperatures, increased hydrostatic pressure, the presence of chaotropic agents, etc. Osmolytes are one of the most important groups of molecules that are employed by the cell as an adaptation to these harsh conditions. These small molecules maintain cell volume, osmotic equilibrium, redox states, and energy quanta of the cell. The current chapter reviews the versatility of the osmolytes in various metabolic functions and how widely they are distributed across the different classes of organisms (plants, animals, insects, marine animals, etc.). This chapter discusses their diversity and the exact mechanism by virtue of which these osmolytes are able to impart stability to the proteins. It also elucidates on the application of these osmolytes in treatment of various diseases and as possible drugs from the pharmaceutical point of view.