Differential scanning calorimetry study of the thermodynamic stability of some mutants of Sso7d from Sulfolobus solfataricus

ABSTRACT: Sso7d from the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus is a small globular protein with a known three-dimensional structure. Inspection of the structure reveals that Phe31 is a member of the aromatic cluster forming the protein hydrophobic core, whereas Trp23 is located on the protein surface and its side chain exposed to the solvent. The thermodynamic consequences of the substitution of these two residues in Sso7d have been investigated by comparing the temperature-induced denaturation of Sso7d with that of three mutants: F31A-Sso7d, F31Y-Sso7d, and W23A-Sso7d. The denaturation processes proved to be reversible for all proteins, and represented well by the two-state N S D transition model in a wide range of pH. All three mutants are less thermally stable than the parent protein; in particular, in the pH range of 5.0-7.0, the F31A substitution leads to a decrease of 24 °C in the denaturation temperature, the F31Y substitution to a decrease of 10 °C, and the W23A substitution to a decrease of 6 °C. A careful thermodynamic analysis of such experimental data is carried out. The physicochemical rationalization of the relationship between a given tertiary structure and its thermodynamic stability has attracted much interest in recent years. Such research is closely related to the classic problem of protei