Osmolyte

Osmolytes (English osmolytes ) substances are referred affecting the osmotic state of a system, so are osmotically active. These include ions, proteins and other soluble substances.

Narrower understanding the cell biology under osmolytes such substances, which are formed or imported from a cell ( biology), which is located in a hypertonic environment to equalize the osmotic value of the cell juice to the environment. Such a response serves to protect the cell from the effects of osmotic stress ( osmotic pressure, volume changes ). Does the presence osmolytischer substances (as opposed to the electrolyte ) is not on the cell metabolism and the function of cellular proteins, so these are also referred to as compatible solutes.

The different mechanisms that lead to an accumulation of osmolytes in the cell ( increase in the synthesis, delayed degradation or import into the cell ) are described under the umbrella term Osmolytstrategien.