Effects of naturally occurring osmolytes on protein stability and solubility: issues important in protein crystallization*1

Protein solubility and stability are issues of consideration in attempts to crystallize proteins. These two properties of proteins are also at issue in the cells of organisms that have adapted to water stress conditions that could ordinarily denature or inactivate some proteins. Most organisms that have adapted to environmental stresses have done so by production and accumulation of certain small organic molecules, known as osmolytes, that arose...