Article (Scientific journals)
Molecular basis of cold adaptation
D'Amico, Salvino; Claverie, P.; Collins, T. et al.
2002In Philosophical Transactions. Biological Sciences, 357 (1423), p. 917-924
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Keywords :
cold adaptation; psychrophiles; extremophiles; enzymes; microcalorimetry; directed evolution
Abstract :
[en] Cold-adapted, or psychrophilic, organisms are able to thrive at low temperatures in permanently cold environments, which in fact characterize the greatest proportion of our planet. Psychrophiles include both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and thus represent a significant proportion of the living world. These organisms produce cold-evolved enzymes that are partially able to cope with the reduction in chemical reaction rates induced by low temperatures. As a rule, cold-active enzymes display a high catalytic efficiency, associated however, with a low thermal stability. In most cases, the adaptation to cold is achieved through a reduction in the activation energy that possibly originates from an increased flexibility of either a selected area or of the overall protein structure. This enhanced plasticity seems in turn to be induced by the weak thermal stability of psychrophilic enzymes. The adaptation strategies are beginning to be understood thanks to recent advances in the elucidation of the molecular characteristics of cold-adapted enzymes derived from X-ray crystallography, protein engineering and biophysical methods. Psychrophilic organisms and their enzymes have, in recent years, increasingly attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their peculiar properties that render them particularly useful in investigating the possible relationship existing between stability, flexibility and specific activity and as valuable tools for biotechnological purposes.
Disciplines :
Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology
Author, co-author :
D'Amico, Salvino ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA-Research
Claverie, P.
Collins, T.
Georlette, D.
Gratia, E.
Hoyoux, A.
Meuwis, Marie-Alice  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA-Management : Plate-forme protéomique
Feller, Georges ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > Labo de biochimie
Gerday, Charles ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Services généraux (Faculté des sciences) > Relations académiques et scientifiques (Sciences)
Language :
English
Title :
Molecular basis of cold adaptation
Publication date :
29 July 2002
Journal title :
Philosophical Transactions. Biological Sciences
ISSN :
0962-8436
eISSN :
1471-2970
Publisher :
Royal Soc London, London, United Kingdom
Volume :
357
Issue :
1423
Pages :
917-924
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 26 January 2010

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