CspB and CspL, thermostable cold‐shock proteins from <i>Thermotoga maritima</i>

Abstract

TmCspB and TmCspL (i) are able to perform essential functions of E. coli Csps in vitro and in vivo, 50-65 degrees C below the temperature optimum of T. maritima and (ii) can anti-terminate transcription by T. maritima RNA polymerase at 55 degrees C, the lower limit of temperature range for growth of T. maritima. We propose that the observed properties of TmCsps are physiologically relevant and that TmCsps are important for adaptation of T. maritima to physiologically low temperatures.