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A molecular approach to understanding cold-active enzymes

Reference	P04806
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr David Hough
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Michael Danson
Institution	University of Bath
Department	Biology and Biochemistry
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	146,829
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	11/09/1995
End date	20/12/1999
Duration	51 months

Abstract

Little is known about the structural basis for cold-activity of enzymes from psychrophilic microorganisms. Therefore, we plan to clone, sequence and express the gene for cold-active citrate synthase from a psychrophile. We will then use X-ray crystallography and molecular modelling to understand the molecular basis of enzyme activity at low temperature in the case of this enzyme, using for comparison the known 3D structures for this enzyme from mesophilic and thermophilic sources. We will also investigate the adaptation of the citric acid cycle to growth at low temperatures and compare the expression of genes encoding psychrophilic and mesophilic proteins in psychrophilic and mesophilic hosts. This will include establishing a psychrophilic expression system that may overcome problems such as inclusion-body formation and proteolysis of recombinant proteins.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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