Environmental conditions modulate the switch among different states of the hydrophobin Vmh2 from Pleurotus ostreatus

Biomacromolecules. 2012 Mar 12;13(3):743-50. doi: 10.1021/bm201663f. Epub 2012 Feb 21.

Abstract

Fungal hydrophobins are amphipathic, highly surface-active, and self-assembling proteins. The class I hydrophobin Vmh2 from the basidiomycete fungus Pleurotus ostreatus seems to be the most hydrophobic hydrophobin characterized so far. Structural and functional properties of the protein as a function of the environmental conditions have been determined. At least three distinct phenomena can occur, being modulated by the environmental conditions: (1) when the pH increases or in the presence of Ca(2+) ions, an assembled state, β-sheet rich, is formed; (2) when the solvent polarity increases, the protein shows an increased tendency to reach hydrophobic/hydrophilic interfaces, with no detectable conformational change; and (3) when a reversible conformational change and reversible aggregation occur at high temperature. Modulation of the Vmh2 conformational/aggregation features by changing the environmental conditions can be very useful in view of the potential protein applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Environment
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Pleurotus / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Solvents / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Solvents
  • Calcium