Hydrophobicity at low temperatures and cold denaturation of a protein

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2009 Mar;79(3 Pt 1):030905. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.79.030905. Epub 2009 Mar 26.

Abstract

We elucidate the microscopic mechanism of the weakening of the hydrophobicity at low temperatures by investigating cold denaturation of a protein. We employ an elaborate statistical-mechanical theory combined with a realistic water model. At low temperatures, the ordered structure with enhanced hydrogen bonds of water molecules is formed near nonpolar groups, leading to entropic loss and energy gain which are both quite large. However, they are canceled out and make no contribution to the free-energy change. We argue that a different factor, which is responsible for the weakening of the hydrophobicity at low temperatures, induces cold denaturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cold Temperature*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Denaturation*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Thermodynamics
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Water