The search for traces of life: the protective effect of salt on biological macromolecules.

M. Tehei (1) , Bruno Franzetti (1) , M.-C. Maurel (2) , J. Vergne (2) , Codjo Hountondji (3) , Giuseppe Zaccai (4, 1)

1 IBS - UMR 5075 - Institut de biologie structurale
2 IJM (UMR_7592) - Institut Jacques Monod
3 BIOC - Laboratoire de Biochimie de l'Ecole polytechnique
4 ILL - Institut Laue-Langevin

Trapping malate dehydrogenase from the extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula marismortui in "dry" salt crystals protects the enzyme against thermal denaturation. Similar protection was not observed for the homologous mesophilic enzyme. In the case of transfer RNA molecules, high salt concentration plays a protective role against thermal degradation allowing activity to be recovered. The results are discussed in the context of exploring the fate of cell-free biological macromolecules in the environment and that of orienting the search for traces of life in planetary exploration.

Domaines: Biochimie, Biologie Moléculaire

M. Tehei, Bruno Franzetti, M.-C. Maurel, J. Vergne, Codjo Hountondji, et al.. The search for traces of life: the protective effect of salt on biological macromolecules.. Extremophiles, 2002, 6 (5), pp.427-30. ⟨10.1007/s00792-002-0275-6⟩. ⟨hal-00770922⟩