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Adaptation to extreme environments: macromolecular dynamics in bacteria compared in vivo by neutron scattering
Author(s) -
Tehei Moeava,
Franzetti Bruno,
Madern Dominique,
Ginzburg Margaret,
Ginzburg Ben Z,
GiudiciOrticoni MarieThérèse,
Bruschi Mireille,
Zaccai Giuseppe
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1038/sj.embor.7400049
Subject(s) - bacteria , adaptation (eye) , dynamics (music) , in vivo , neutron scattering , biology , neutron , macromolecule , physics , biophysics , nuclear physics , genetics , optics , acoustics
Mean macromolecular dynamics was quantified in vivo by neutron scattering in psychrophile, mesophile, thermophile and hyperthermophile bacteria. Root mean square atomic fluctuation amplitudes determining macromolecular flexibility were found to be similar for each organism at its physiological temperature (∼1 Å in the 0.1 ns timescale). Effective force constants determining the mean macromolecular resilience were found to increase with physiological temperature from 0.2 N/m for the psychrophiles, which grow at 4°C, to 0.6 N/m for the hyperthermophiles (85°C), indicating that the increase in stabilization free energy is dominated by enthalpic rather than entropic terms. Larger resilience allows macromolecular stability at high temperatures, while maintaining flexibility within acceptable limits for biological activity.