The Regulation of Surface Charge by Biological Osmolytes

Osmolytes, small molecules synthesized by all organisms, play a crucial role in tuning protein stability and function under variable external conditions. Despite their electrical neutrality, osmolyte action is entwined with that of cellular salts and protons in a mechanism only partially understood. To elucidate this mechanism, we utilize an ultrahigh-resolution frequency modulation-AFM for measuring the effect of two biological osmolytes, urea and glycerol, on the surface charge of silica, an archetype protic surface with a pK value similar to that of acidic amino acids. We find that addition of urea, a known protein destabilizer, enhances silica’s surface charge by more than 50%, an effect equivalent to a 4-unit increase of pH. Conversely, addition of glycerol, a protein stabilizer, practically neutralizes the silica surface, an effect equivalent to 2-units’ reduction of pH. Simultaneous measurements of the interfacial liquid viscosity indicate that urea accumulates extensively near the silica surface, ...