Macromolecular Crowding and DNA: Bridging the Gap between In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract

The cellular environment is highly crowded, with up to 40% of the volume fraction ofthe cell occupied by various macromolecules. Most laboratory experiments take place in dilutebuffer solutions; by adding various synthetic or organic macromolecules, researchers have begunto bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo measurements. This is a review of the reportedeffects of macromolecular crowding on the compaction and extension of DNA, the effect of macromolecularcrowding on DNA kinetics, and protein-DNA interactions. Theoretical models relatedto macromolecular crowding and DNA are briefly reviewed. Gaps in the literature, including theuse of biologically relevant crowders, simultaneous use of multi-sized crowders, empirical connectionsbetween macromolecular crowding and liquid–liquid phase separation of nucleic materialsare discussed.