Fukuhara Erika, Dunkley Elsie, Bevilacqua Alessandro, Laurino Paola
Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Biochemistry. 2025 Jul 1;64(13):2699-2711. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5c00212. Epub 2025 Jun 15.
The cytoplasm is a dynamic, self-organizing system spanning scales from organelles to biomolecular condensates and multienzyme assemblies. While enzymatic regulation has traditionally been attributed to transcriptional control and allostery, emerging evidence highlights the cytoplasm's physical properties─macromolecular crowding, viscosity, and diffusion─as a crucial yet underappreciated regulatory layer. These biophysical factors actively modulate enzymatic activity and metabolic flux, maintaining homeostasis and enabling adaptive cellular responses. This Perspective explores the biochemical interplay between the cytosolic environment and enzymatic function, emphasizing how cytoplasmic organization contributes to metabolic regulation.
细胞质是一个动态的、自我组织的系统,其范围涵盖从细胞器到生物分子凝聚物和多酶组装体等多个尺度。传统上,酶促调节被认为归因于转录控制和变构作用,但新出现的证据表明,细胞质的物理特性——大分子拥挤、粘度和扩散——是一个关键但未得到充分重视的调节层面。这些生物物理因素积极调节酶活性和代谢通量,维持体内平衡并实现适应性细胞反应。本观点探讨了细胞质环境与酶功能之间的生化相互作用,强调了细胞质组织如何促进代谢调节。