  We investigated the energy transfer from active enzymes to their surroundings
in crowded environments by measuring the diffusion of passive microscopic
tracers in active solutions of ficoll and glycerol. Despite observing lower
rates of substrate turnover and relatively smaller enhancement of passive
tracer diffusion in artificial crowded media compared to those in aqueous
solutions, we found a significantly higher relative diffusion enhancement in
crowded environments in the presence of enzymatic activity. Our experimental
observations, coupled with supporting analytical estimations, underscored the
critical role of the intervening media in facilitating mechanical energy
distribution around active enzymes.
