Stabilizing Proteins

These web pages is amodification and up-dating by Torsten Unge of a web-practical originallywritten by Matti Nikkola, IBG,BMC, Uppsala

Introduction

The structure studies of proteins from different organisms living indifferent extreme surroundings such as high temperature, high salt etc. havegiven knowledge why some proteins are more stable than others. Moreover, protein-engineeringexperiments on now several proteins have further provided with insight in whichproperties are of importance. This has given an understanding of the basicprinciples of protein stabilizing forces. These forces include the hydrophobic,hydrophilic and electrostatic interactions.

In this exercise you will analyze mesophilic and thermophilicsubtilisin.

You will analyze the enzyme using different methods and also suggest andperform the mutations that you guess would stabilize the mesophilic form.