Elucidating the protein cold-adaptation: Investigation of the parameters enhancing protein psychrophilicity

J Theor Biol. 2008 Nov 7;255(1):113-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2008.07.034. Epub 2008 Jul 31.

Abstract

To investigate the role of the critical parameters in adaptation of proteins to low temperatures, a comparative systematic analysis was performed. Several parameters were proposed to have contribution to cold adaptation of proteins. Among proposed parameters, total values of residual structure states, secondary structure states and oligomeric states were alike in both psychrophilic and mesophilic proteins. In addition, our results provided new quantitative information about the trends in the substitution preference of Ile, Phe, Tyr, Lys, Arg, His, Glu and Leu with most of amino acids and substitution avoidance of Gly, Thr and Ala with most of amino acids. These findings would help future efforts propose a strategy for designing psychrophilic proteins.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Antifreeze Proteins / chemistry*
  • Cold Temperature*
  • Databases, Protein
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antifreeze Proteins