Issue 10, 2017

Trimethylamine-N-oxide: its hydration structure, surface activity, and biological function, viewed by vibrational spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract

The osmolyte molecule trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) stabilizes the structure of proteins. As functional proteins are generally found in aqueous solutions, an important aspect of this stabilization is the interaction of TMAO with water. Here, we review, using vibrational spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, recent studies on the structure and dynamics of TMAO with its surrounding water molecules. This article ends with an outlook on the open questions on TMAO–protein and TMAO–urea interactions in aqueous environments.

Graphical abstract: Trimethylamine-N-oxide: its hydration structure, surface activity, and biological function, viewed by vibrational spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
24 Okt. 2016
Accepted
11 Janv. 2017
First published
11 Janv. 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017,19, 6909-6920

Trimethylamine-N-oxide: its hydration structure, surface activity, and biological function, viewed by vibrational spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations

T. Ohto, J. Hunger, E. H. G. Backus, W. Mizukami, M. Bonn and Y. Nagata, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017, 19, 6909 DOI: 10.1039/C6CP07284D

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