Journal article
Halophilic enzymes: proteins with a grain of salt
Biophysical chemistry, Vol.86(2), pp.155-164
2000
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/108977
PMID: 11026680
Abstract
Halophilic enzymes, while performing identical enzymatic functions as their non-halophilic counterparts, have been shown to exhibit substantially different properties, among them the requirement for high salt concentrations, in the 1–4 M range, for activity and stability, and a high excess of acidic over basic amino residues. The following communication reviews the functional and structural properties of two proteins isolated from the extremely halophilic archaeon
Haloarcula marismortui: the enzyme malate-dehydrogenase (hMDH) and the 2Fe–2S protein ferredoxin. It is argued that the high negative surface charge of halophilic proteins makes them more soluble and renders them more flexible at high salt concentrations, conditions under which non-halophilic proteins tend to aggregate and become rigid. This high surface charge is neutralized mainly by tightly bound water dipoles. The requirement of high salt concentration for the stabilization of halophilic enzymes, on the other hand, is due to a low affinity binding of the salt to specific sites on the surface of the folded polypeptide, thus stabilizing the active conformation of the protein.
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Details
- Title
- Halophilic enzymes: proteins with a grain of salt
- Creators
- Moshe Mevarech - Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, IsraelFelix Frolow - Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, IsraelLisa M Gloss - School of Molecular Biosciences, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4460, USA
- Publication Details
- Biophysical chemistry, Vol.86(2), pp.155-164
- Academic Unit
- Graduate School
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Identifiers
- 99900547347301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article