Summary
The ability of the compatible solute, proline, to affect the behavior of proteins has been examined in many different systems by many researchers. In the present study of protein solvation, proline has been shown to prevent or diminish, in a concentration-dependent manner, the glutamine synthetase-precipitating ability of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The effects of PEG concentration and molecular weight are reduced by proline, and the interaction is strongly affected by pH.
PEG causes precipitation of many proteins, and the ability of proline to reduce the precipitation of two non-enzymatic conjugated proteins, alfalfa mosaic virus and an 3H-testosterone/antiserum complex, was also examined. Proline was effective in reducing the PEG-induced precipitation of both proteins. Virus precipitation by PEG and its alleviation by proline are influenced by pH. The increased virus-precipitating effect of PEG in the presence of salt (NaCl) is also alleviated by proline. The precipitation of the radioimmune complex by PEG is diminished by proline and by a mixture of free amino acids.
These results indicate the generality of the three-way interaction between proline, protein and PEG. They may be of importance for extraction of proteins from biological systems and in studies of enzyme inactivation or protein denaturation in a cytoplasmic milieu. The results suggest that the protective effects of some amino acids are at least additive and are consistent with the conclusion that the compatible solutes protect protein-containing systems against the unfavorable consequences of dehydration and other stresses, by increasing the tendency of the system to maintain the status quo.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ahmad I, Larher F, Mann A F, McNally S F and Stewart G R 1982 Nitrogen metabolism of halophytes. IV. Characteristics of glutamine synthetase from Triglochin maritima L. New Phytol. 91, 585–595.
Ahmad I, Larher F and Stewart G R 1979 Sorbitol, a compatible osmotic solute in Plantago maritima. New Phytol. 82, 671–678.
Aspinall D and Paleg L G 1981 Proline accumulation: physiological aspects.In Physiology and Biochemistry of Drought Resistance in Plants. Eds. L G Paleg and D Aspinall. pp 205–241. Academic Press, Sydney.
Boggess S F, Aspinall D and Paleg L G 1976 Stress metabolism. IX. The significance of end-product inhibition of proline biosynthesis and of compartmentation in relation to stressinduced proline accumulation. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 3, 513–525.
Boggess S F, Stewart C R, Aspinall D and Paleg L G 1976 Effect of water stress on proline synthesis from radioactive precursors. Plant Physiol. 58, 398–401.
Borowitzka L J 1981 Solute accumulation and regulation of cell water activity. In Physiology and Biochemistry of Drought Resistance in Plants. Eds. L G Paleg and D Aspinall. pp 97–130. Academic Press, Sydney.
Bowlus R D and Somero G N 1979 Solute compatibility with enzyme function and structure: rationales for the selection of osmotic agents and end-products of anaerobic metabolism in marine invertebrates. J. Exp. Zool. 208, 137–152.
Fried M and Chun P W 1971 Water-soluble non-ionic polymers in protein purification. Methods Enzymol. 22, 238–248.
Gorham J, Hughes L I and Wyn Jones R G 1981 Low-molecular-weight carbohydrates in some salt-stressed plants. Physiol. Plant. 53, 27–33.
Greaney G S and Somero G N 1979 Effects of anions on the activation thermodynamics and fluorescence emission spectrum of alkaline phosphatase: evidence for enzyme hydration changes during catalysis. Biochemistry 18, 5322–5332.
Hanson A D, Nelsen C E and Everson E H 1977 Evaluation of free proline accumulation as an index of drought resistance using two contrasting barley cultivars. Crop Sci. 17, 720–726.
Ingham K C 1977 Polyethylene glycol in aqueous solution: solvent perturbation and gel filtration studies. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 184, 59–68.
Lee J C and Lee L L Y 1981 Preferential solvent interactions between proteins and polyethylene glycols. J. Biol. Chem. 256, 625–631.
Low P S and Somero G N 1975 Protein hydration changes during catalysis: a new mechanism of enzymic rate enhancement and ion activation/inhibition of catalysis. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 72, 3305–3309.
McNally S F, Orebamjo T O, Hirel B and Stewart G R 1983 Glutamine synthetase isoenzymes of Striga hermonthica and other angiosperm parasites. J. Exp. Bot. 34, 610–619.
Miekka S I and Ingham K C 1980 Influence of hetero-association on the precipitation of proteins by poly (ethylene glycol). Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 203, 630–641.
Munns R, Brady C J and Barlow E W R 1979 Solute accumulation in the apex and leaves of wheat during water stress. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 6, 379–389.
Na G C and Timasheff S N 1981 Interaction of calf brain tubulin with glycerol. J. Mol. Biol. 151, 165–178.
Nash D, Paleg L G and Wiskich J T 1982 The effect of proline, betaine and some other solutes on the heat stability of mitochondrial enzymes. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 9, 47–57.
Paleg L G, Douglas T J, van Daal A and Keech D B 1981 Proline and betaine protect enzymes against heat inactivation. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 8, 107–114.
Paleg L G, Stewart G R and Bradbeer J W 1984 Proline and glycine betaine influence protein solvation. Plant Physiol. 75, 974 - 978.
Pollard A and Wyn Jones R G 1979 Enzyme activities in concentrated solutions of glycine betaine and other solutes. Planta 144, 291–298.
Rhodes D, Rendon G A and Stewart G R 1975 The control of glutamine synthetase activity in Lemna minor L. Planta 125, 203–210.
Setter T L and Greenway H 1979 Growth and osmoregulation of Chlorella emersonii in NaCl and neutral osmotica. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 6, 47–60 and corrigendum in Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 6, 569–572.
Singh T N, Aspinall D and Paleg L G 1972 Proline accumulation and varietal adaptability to drought in barley: a potential metabolic measure of drought resistance. Nature New Biol. 236, 188–190.
Zb Stewart C R, Boggess S F, Aspinall D and Paleg L G 1977 Inhibition of proline oxidation by water stress. Plant Physiol. 59, 930–932.
Stewart G R and Lee J A 1974 The role of proline accumulation in halophytes. Planta Berlin 120, 279–289.
Thorell J I and Larson S M 1978 Radioimmunoassay and Related Techniques, C V Mosley Co., St. Louis.
van Vloten-Doting L and Jaspers E M J 1972 The uncoating of alfalfa mosaic virus by its own RNA. Virology 48, 699–708.
Wyn Jones R G and Storey R 1981 Betaines. In Physiology and Biochemistry of Drought Resistance in Plants. Eds. L G Paleg and D Aspinall. pp 172–204. Academic Press, Sydney.
Yamamoto K R, Alberts B M, Benzinger R, Lawhorne L and Treiber G 1970 Rapid bacteriophage sedimentation in the presence of polyethylene glycol and its application to large-scale virus purification. Virology 40, 734–744.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1985 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Paleg, L.G., Stewart, G.R., Starr, R. (1985). The effect of compatible solutes on proteins. In: Pasternak, D., San Pietro, A. (eds) Biosalinity in Action: Bioproduction with Saline Water. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5111-2_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5111-2_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8759-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5111-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive