[ccp4bb]: Thermostability vs Structure

[Gregory Verdon <g.verdon@chem.rug.nl>]

Hi,

You should have a look at this article

Trends in Biochemical Sciences

                      Full A-Z Journal ListIssues ListVol. 26, No. 9, September 2001 Abstract


                     Ion pairs and the thermotolerance of proteins from hyperthermophiles: a 'traffic rule' for hot roads [Review]
                     Andrey Karshikoff and Rudolf Ladenstein
                     Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 2001, 26:9:550-556

                         
                         Abstract

                         The proteins from hyperthermophilic organisms maintain their biologically active structure at temperatures that
                         are significantly higher than the denaturation temperatures of their mesophilic counterparts. The fact that there is
                         usually a high degree of sequence and structural homology between these two classes of proteins suggests that
                         the source of this extreme thermal tolerance is hidden in the delicate balance of the non-covalent interactions.
                         Among the large number of factors identified in the literature as being responsible for the thermostability of these
                         proteins, this article focuses on electrostatic interactions. It demonstrates that the optimization of electrostatic
                         interactions by increasing of the number of salt bridges is a driving force for enhancement of the
                         thermotolerance of proteins from hyperthermophilic microorganisms. This feature is less evident in proteins from
                         thermophilic organisms and is absent from mesophile-derived proteins.

Regards,

                        Greg

  ________________________________________________________________
                                                                
  Gregory Verdon                                                                                                                                   
  Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry                                     
  Department of Chemistry                                                  
  University of Groningen                                                  
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  9747 AG Groningen                   fax   : +31(50)3634800                  
  The Netherlands                     e-mail: g.verdon@chem.rug.nl 
                                                                
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