Pressure effects on enzyme functions

Abstract

Hydrostatic pressure is a well-known method for studying protein dynamics and hydration. Recent developments in molecular biology allow us to obtain and investigate recombinant proteins from deep-sea organisms living in high-pressure environments. The aims of this review are to give a brief introduction of the thermodynamic principles of pressure effects on proteins and to highlight the effects of hydrostatic pressure on various enzymes, especially enzymes from deep-sea organisms.