depletion attraction: an underappreciated force driving cellular organization

Cellular structures are shaped by hydrogen and ionic bonds, plus van der Waals and hydrophobic forces. In cells crowded with macromolecules, a little-known and distinct force--the "depletion attraction"--also acts. We review evidence that this force assists in the assembly of a wide range...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of cell biology 2006-12, Vol.175 (5), p.681-686
Main Authors: Marenduzzo, Davide, Finan, Kieran, Cook, Peter R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins - chemistry
Aggregation
Amyloid - chemistry
Anemia, Sickle Cell - genetics
Anemia, Sickle Cell - metabolism
Animals
Cell aggregates
Cell Nucleus - chemistry
Cellular biology
Cellular Structures - chemistry
Chemical bonds
Chromatin
Chromosomes
Cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton - chemistry
DNA
Entropy
Genome
Humans
Hydrogen Bonding
Hydrogen bonds
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Macromolecules
Mini-Reviews
Models, Genetic
Organelles - chemistry
Protein Conformation
Proteins
Reviews
Stem cells
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Summary:Cellular structures are shaped by hydrogen and ionic bonds, plus van der Waals and hydrophobic forces. In cells crowded with macromolecules, a little-known and distinct force--the "depletion attraction"--also acts. We review evidence that this force assists in the assembly of a wide range of cellular structures, ranging from the cytoskeleton to chromatin loops and whole chromosomes.
ISSN:0021-9525
1540-8140
DOI:10.1083/jcb.200609066