Abstract 2892 Elucidating the role of glycopolymer crowders on protein folding and stability

The carbohydrate composition of the glycocalyx is constantly changing in response to routine cellular activities and due to pathology. Specifically, an increase in extracellular concentrations of mucin, heparin sulfate, and hyaluronan polymers have been associated with cancer cell types. The effects of various polymers, osmolytes, and cosolutes on protein stability have been well documented in vitro and in cells, but there remains a paucity of research addressing how crowding of these glycopolymers affects proteins on the surface of cells.