Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Wang, Shikun
• Eicher, Jonathan
• Pielak, Gary J.

Titel

Trifluoroethanol and the behavior of a tardigrade desiccation‐tolerance protein

Ist Teil von

• Protein science, 2023-08, Vol.32 (8), p.e4716-n/a

Ort / Verlag

Hoboken, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

Wiley Online Library Journals Frontfile Complete

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The cosolvent 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol (TFE) is often used to mimic protein desiccation. We assessed the effects of TFE on cytosolic abundant heat soluble protein D (CAHS D) from tardigrades. CAHS D is a member of a unique protein class that is necessary and sufficient for tardigrades to survive desiccation. We find that the response of CAHS D to TFE depends on the concentration of both species. Dilute CAHS D remains soluble and, like most proteins exposed to TFE, gains α‐helix. More concentrated solutions of CAHS D in TFE accumulate β‐sheet, driving both gel formation and aggregation. At even higher TFE and CAHS D concentrations, samples phase separate without aggregation or increases in helix. Our observations show the importance of considering protein concentration when using TFE.