Single-Molecule-Level Evidence for the Osmophobic Effect

Protecting osmolytes play a crucial role in preventing protein denaturation in harsh environmental conditions of living organisms. Experimental evidence is provided for a mechanism of protein-fold stabilization by these molecules that is in accord with the hypothesis of a backbone-based osmophobic effect. (In picture: ”G=free energy, [O]=osmolyte concentration, Ç=unfolding reaction coordinate.)