Effect of hydrostatic pressure on lysozyme and chymotrypsinogen detected by fluorescence polarization

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Biochemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bi00517a002· OSTI ID:6844664

Chryssomallis, G S; Torgerson, P M; Drickamer, H G; Weber, G

The effect of hydrostatic pressure upon solutions of chymotrypsinogen and lysozyme at room temperature has been followed by employing a new technique that permits the measurement of fluorescence polarization at pressures of up to 10 kbar. Lysozyme shows a stable, reversible 60% increase in apparent volume when the pressure is raised to 9 kbar. This can be given a simple interpretation in terms of solvent penetration of the structure at higher pressures. In contrast, the results with chymotrypsinogen are time dependent and only partially reversible on release of the pressure. They involve conversion (t/sub l///sub e/ = 5 min) to a form with a lower rotational rate at approximately 6 kbar and return to a fast-rotating form at higher pressure. This latter form persists on pressure release. The possibility of generating what are clearly metastable conformations, not only in chymotrypsinogen but also in flavodoxins indicates that there are unresolved questions about the relative stability of protein conformations which can be profitably investigated by high-pressure experiments.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Illinois, Urbana
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ER01198
• OSTI ID: 6844664
• Journal Information: Biochemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Biochemistry; (United States) Vol. 20:14; ISSN BICHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHYMOTRYPSIN
DYES
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
ENZYMES
FLUORESCEIN
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
HYDROLASES
HYDROXY ACIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LYSOZYME
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
O-GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
PHENOLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLARIZATION
POLYPHENOLS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PROTEINS
SERINE PROTEINASES
SPECTROSCOPY
STABILITY
TIME DEPENDENCE
VOLUME