Cold-induced conformational changes of ribonuclease A as investigated by subzero transverse temperature gradient gel electrophoresis

Abstract

Subzero temperature gradient gel electrophoresis is a new approach which allows to measure the transition temperature of low temperature-induced subtle conformational changes of proteins and to detect the different conformational states, including unfolded states. Using this technique under destabilizing conditions, i.e., in the presence of 4 M urea, bovine pancreas ribonuclease A exhibited two transitions: (i) a continuous transition with a midpoint temperature of −14°C corresponding to a rapid equilibrium between the initial enzyme state and a conformational state more compact than the initial one; (ii) a discontinuous transition at −22.5°C from intermediate to a non migrating species. Under reducing conditions this second transition was shifted toward high temperatures (−18.5°C). We attempted to detect these two transitions by differential scanning calorimetry, UV spectrophotometry and circular dichroism measurements. These transitions have been ascribed to subtle cold-induced conformational changes.