Friday, October 30, 2026
Science

Crowding can speed up enzyme reactions—until protein droplets become too packed

Our cells are a hotbed of activity, with reactions churning away to keep us alive. But the cytoplasm, where many metabolic reactions take place, is not uniform. Instead, proteins and other molecules cluster together into membraneless compartments, creating distinct, crowded microenvironments for rea...

Crowding can speed up enzyme reactions—until protein droplets become too packed
Image: Phys.org
Our cells are a hotbed of activity, with reactions churning away to keep us alive. But the cytoplasm, where many metabolic reactions take place, is not uniform. Instead, proteins and other molecules cluster together into membraneless compartments, creating distinct, crowded microenvironments for reactions.

Originally published at Phys.org

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