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Current Protein & Peptide Science

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2037
ISSN (Online): 1875-5550

Cold Adaptation of Archaeal Elongation Factor 2 (EF-2) Proteins

Author(s): Torsten Thomas and Ricardo Cavicchioli

Volume 3, Issue 2, 2002

Page: [223 - 230] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1389203024605359

Price: $65

Abstract

Cell growth at low temperature is dependent on the ability of cells to perform protein synthesis. Cold adapted micro-organisms (psychrophilic or psychrotolerant) have a superior ability to perform translation at low temperature. This review addresses cold adaptation of protein synthesis in Archaea by examining what is presently known about thermal adaptation of elongation factor 2 (EF-2) proteins from Archaea. Despite the knowledge that Archaea are abundant in cold environments (e.g. the ocean), few cold adapted species have been isolated and studied. As a result this review is largely confined to comparative analyses of EF-2 proteins from psychrotolerant (Methanococcoides burtonii) and thermophilic (Methanosarcina thermophila) methanogens. A key finding from these studies is that in addition to inherent properties of the EF-2 proteins, intracellular factors (e.g. ribosomes and intracellular solutes) play a central role in thermal adaptation.

Keywords: (ef-2)proteins, methanococcoides burtonii, methanosarcina thermophila, gtpase-activity


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