Gradual Adaptive Changes of a Protein Facing High Salt Concentrations

Several experimental techniques were applied to unravel fine molecular details of protein adaptation to high salinity. We compared four homologous enzymes, which suggested a new halo-adaptive state in the process of molecular adaptation to high-salt conditions. Together with comparative functional studies, the structure of malate dehydrogenase from the eubacterium Salinibacter ruber shows that the enzyme shares characteristics of a halo-adapted archaea-bacterial enzyme and of non-halo-adapted enzymes from other eubacterial species. The S. ruber enzyme is active at the high physiological concentrations of KC1 but, unlike typical haloadapted enzymes, remains folded and active at low salt concentrations. Structural aspects of the protein, including acidic residues at the surface, solvent-exposed hydrophobic surface, and buried hydrophobic surface, place it between the typical halo-adapted and non-halo-adapted proteins. The enzyme lacks inter-subunit ion-binding sites often seen in halo-adapted enzymes. These observations permit us to suggest an evolutionary pathway that is highlighted by subtle trade-offs to achieve an optimal compromise among solubility, stability, and catalytic activity. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.