EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE PROPYLAMINE TRANSFERASE FROM SULFOLOBUS-SOLFATARICUS, AN EXTREME THERMOPHILIC ARCHAEBACTERIUM .1. CONFORMATIONAL BEHAVIOR OF THE OLIGOMERIC ENZYME IN SOLUTION

The effect of temperature on the molecular structure of propylamine transferase from Sulfolobus solfataricus has been investigated. Sulfolobus solfataricus is an extreme thermophilic archaebacterium with an optimum living condition at 90-degrees-C. The enzyme is an oligomeric (trimer) protein of molecular mass 112 kDa. The frictional ratio for the native protein suggests an irregularly shaped compact globular structure. The protein matrix is well organized as suggested by far ultraviolet circular dichroism at 25-degrees-C (18% alpha-helix, 43% beta-structure, 19% beta-bends and 20% unordered: root mean square = 7). Structural effects of temperature were investigated over 28-85-degrees-C. The protein retains its quaternary structure in this temperature range. A highly reversible subtle conformational transition was detected by numerous structure-dependent techniques over 40-50-degrees-C, with a midpoint centered at 45-degrees-C. Functional data also support this view. In fact, two enzyme forms, characterized by different catalytic properties, are present in solution. The Arrhenius plot suggests the occurrence of two different activation-energy-dependent processes, one at a temperature higher and one at a temperature lower than 45-degrees-C. The transition has been considered as a molecular switch between two protein populations at equilibrium with different functional and structural properties, temperature modulated. A physiological role for the molecular switch has also been postulated. The protein also shows some subtle and reversible spectroscopic changes around 75-degrees-C. The molecular basis of the thermophilic nature of this enzyme seems to reside in its capability to dynamically couple catalytic and structural events to the thermal properties of the ambient medium.