Effect of high pressure on activity of rabbit reticulocyte cell-free protein-synthesizing system

Abstract

Studies so far indicate that many processes in the interactions between biomacromole-cules are accompanied by a change in occupied volume. For instance, the association ofprotein subunits into oligomer and the formation of protein-nucleic acid complex give anincrease in volume. The increase in volume in these processes mainly results from: (i) theformation of the dead space between the subunits of the oligomeric protein or the com-plexes in the processes mentioned above; (ii) the formation of salt bonds and (iii) theinteractions between hydrophobic groups. It is known from the Lechatelier principle that ifhigh pressure is applied to an equilibrium system mentioned above, the original equilibrium