Organic osmolytes as compatible, metabolic and counteracting cytoprotectants in high osmolarity and other stresses

TLDR: Organic osmolytes are small solutes used by cells of numerous water-stressed organisms and tissues to maintain cell volume and have applications in biotechnology, agriculture and medicine, including in vitro rescue of the misfolded protein of cystic fibrosis.

Abstract: counteract perturbations by urea (eg in elasmobranchs and mammalian kidney), inorganic ions, and hydrostatic pressure in deep-sea animals Trehalose and proline in overwintering insects stabilize membranes at subzero temperatures Trehalose in insects and yeast, and anionic polyols in microorganisms around hydrothermal vents, can protect proteins from denaturation by high temperatures Third, stabilizing solutes appear to be used in nature only to counteract perturbants of macromolecules, perhaps because stabilization is detrimental in the absence of perturbation Some of these solutes have applications in biotechnology, agriculture and medicine, including in vitro rescue of the misfolded protein of cystic fibrosis However, caution is warranted if high levels cause overstabilization of proteins