Cold Adaptation Of Proteins Research Articles

Protein cold adaptation: Role of physico-chemical parameters in adaptation of proteins to low temperatures

During years 2007 and 2008, we published three papers (Jahandideh, 2007a, JTB, 246, 159-166; Jahandideh, 2007b, JTB, 248, 721-726; Jahandideh, 2008, JTB, 255, 113-118) investigating sequence and structural parameters in adaptation of proteins to low temperatures. Our studies revealed important features in cold-adaptation of proteins. Here, we calculate values of a new set of physico-chemical parameters and perform a comparative systematic analysis on a more comprehensive database of psychrophilic–mesophilic homologous protein pairs. Our obtained results confirm that psychrophilicity rules are not merely the inverse rules of thermostability; for instance, although contact order is reported as a key feature in thermostability, our results have shown no significant difference between contact orders of psychrophilic proteins compared to mesophilic proteins. We are optimistic that these findings would help future efforts to propose a strategy for designing cold-adapted proteins.

Molecular dynamics simulation of a psychrophilic adenylate kinase

Proteins from psychrophilic organisms can function at low temperatures and have shown potential for industrial applications. In the present study, thermal denaturation of a psychrophilic adenylate kinase (AKpsychro) from Bacillus globisporus was measured using circular dichroism spectroscopy and its molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed. The results from the unfolding experiment and MD simulations of AKpsychro were compared with those of its mesophilic and thermophilic homologues to study the relationship between dynamic motion and the cold adaptation of proteins.

Structures of the psychrophilic Alteromonas haloplanctis alpha-amylase give insights into cold adaptation at a molecular level.

. Enzymes from psychrophilic (cold-adapted) microorganisms operate at temperatures close to 0 degreesC, where the activity of their mesophilic and thermophilic counterparts is drastically reduced. It has generally been assumed that thermophily is associated with rigid proteins, whereas psychrophilic enzymes have a tendency to be more flexible. . Insights into the cold adaptation of proteins are gained on the basis of a psychrophilic protein's molecular structure. To this end, we have determined the structure of the recombinant form of a psychrophilic alpha-amylase from Alteromonas haloplanctis at 2.4 A resolution. We have compared this with the structure of the wild-type enzyme, recently solved at 2.0 A resolution, and with available structures of their mesophilic counterparts. These comparative studies have enabled us to identify possible determinants of cold adaptation. . We propose that an increased resilience of the molecular surface and a less rigid protein core, with less interdomain interactions, are determining factors of the conformational flexibility that allows efficient enzyme catalysis in cold environments.

Cold adaptation of proteins. Purification, characterization, and sequence of the heat-labile subtilisin from the antarctic psychrophile Bacillus TA41

The gene of subtilisin S41, an alkaline protease secreted by the psychrophile Bacillus TA41, encodes for a preproenzyme of 419 amino acids residues. The nucleotide sequence and NH2- and COOH-terminal amino acid sequencing of the purified enzyme indicate that the mature subtilisin S41 is composed of 309 residues with a predicted M(r) = 31,224. Subtilisin S41 shares most of its properties with mesophilic subtilisins (structure of the precursor, 52% amino acid sequence identity, alkaline pH optimum, broad specificity, Ca2+ binding) but is characterized by a higher specific activity on macromolecular substrate, by a shift of the optimum of activity toward low temperatures, and by a low thermal stability. The enzyme also differs by an acidic pI (5.3) and the presence of one disulfide bond. It is proposed that the psychrophilic enzyme possesses a more flexible molecular structure when compared to mesophilic and thermophilic subtilases in order to compensate for the reduction of reaction rates at low temperatures. The model of subtilisin S41 indeed reveals several features able to induce a more flexible, heat-labile conformation: the occurrence of four extended surface loops, a very hydrophilic surface through 11 extra Asp residues, and the lack of several salt bridges and aromatic-aromatic interactions. The low affinity of the Ca1 calcium binding site (Kd(app) = 10(-6) M), resulting possibly from one chelating side chain substitution and the stacking of Gly residues, also reflect a less compact conformation. The difference of free energy of stabilization between subtilisin S41 and a mesophilic subtilisin suggests that the balance of exo- and endothermically formed weak bonds is critical for the enzyme flexibility.