Temperature protein motion effects

Because both the passive fluctuations and the modulating vibrations can require thermal excitation, this model is capable of accounting for temperature-dependent isotope effects, including those traditionally described by the BeU model. Theoretical studies, which will be the topic of the second and third parts of this three-part series of articles, have not yet produced a consensus on the contribution of specific protein motions to enzyme catalysis. 

Dvorsky, R., Sevcik, J., Caves, L. S. D., Hubbard, R.E., and Verma, C. S. (2000) Temperature effect on protein motion a molecular dynamics study of RNAase-Sa/. Phys. Chem. B 104, 10387-10397. 

Effect of Temperature and pH. The temperature dependence of enzymes often follows the rule that a 10°C increase in temperature doubles the activity. However, this is only tme as long as the enzyme is not deactivated by the thermal denaturation characteristic for enzymes and other proteins. The three-dimensional stmcture of an enzyme molecule, which is vital for the activity of the molecule, is governed by many forces and interactions such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and van der Waals forces. At low temperatures the molecule is constrained by these forces as the temperature increases, the thermal motion of the various regions of the enzyme increases until finally the molecule is no longer able to maintain its stmcture or its activity. Most enzymes have temperature optima between 40 and 60°C. However, thermostable enzymes exist with optima near 100°C. 

Selected entries from Methods in Enzymology [vol, page(s)] Electron paramagnetic resonance [effect on line width, 246, 596-598 motional narrowing spin label spectra, 246, 595-598 slow motion spin label spectra, 246, 598-601] helix-forming peptides, 246, 602-605 proteins, 246, 595 Stokes-Einstein relationship, 246, 594-595 temperature dependence, 246, 602, 604. 

To provide an understanding of the importance of solvent mobility and the intrinsic protein energy surface, an MDS of proteins and surrounding solvent molecules at different temperatures has been performed. The simulation of myoglobin dynamics showed that solvent mobility is the dominant factor in determining protein atomic fluctuations above 180 K (Vitkup et ah, 2000). The drastic effects of water molecule dynamics on the intramolecular motion of RNase and xylase was demonstrated in recent computer simulation studies (Reat et al., 2000 Tarek et al, 2000). Extensive simulations were carried out to identify the time-scale of water attachment to lysozyme (Steprone et... 

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