TY - JOUR
T1 - Modifying Post-Translational Modifications
T2 - A Strategy Used by Archaea for Adapting to Changing Environments?: Manipulating the Extent, Position, or Content of Post-Translational Modifications May Help Archaea Adapt to Environmental Change
AU - Eichler, Jerry
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 WILEY Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2020/3/1
Y1 - 2020/3/1
N2 - In concert with the selective pressures affecting protein folding and function in the extreme environments in which they can exist, proteins in Archaea have evolved to present permanent molecular adaptations at the amino acid sequence level. Such adaptations may not, however, suffice when Archaea encounter transient changes in their surroundings. Post-translational modifications offer a rapid and reversible layer of adaptation for proteins to cope with such situations. Here, it is proposed that Archaea further augment their ability to survive changing growth conditions by modifying the extent, position, and, where relevant, the composition of different post-translational modifications, as a function of the environment. Support for this hypothesis comes from recent reports describing how patterns of protein glycosylation, methylation, and other post-translational modifications of archaeal proteins are altered in response to environmental change. Indeed, adjusting post-translational modifications as a means to cope with environmental variability may also hold true beyond the Archaea.
AB - In concert with the selective pressures affecting protein folding and function in the extreme environments in which they can exist, proteins in Archaea have evolved to present permanent molecular adaptations at the amino acid sequence level. Such adaptations may not, however, suffice when Archaea encounter transient changes in their surroundings. Post-translational modifications offer a rapid and reversible layer of adaptation for proteins to cope with such situations. Here, it is proposed that Archaea further augment their ability to survive changing growth conditions by modifying the extent, position, and, where relevant, the composition of different post-translational modifications, as a function of the environment. Support for this hypothesis comes from recent reports describing how patterns of protein glycosylation, methylation, and other post-translational modifications of archaeal proteins are altered in response to environmental change. Indeed, adjusting post-translational modifications as a means to cope with environmental variability may also hold true beyond the Archaea.
KW - Archaea
KW - adaptation
KW - environment
KW - extremophiles
KW - glycosylation
KW - post-translational modifications
KW - proteins
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078810480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/bies.201900207
DO - 10.1002/bies.201900207
M3 - Article
C2 - 31994760
AN - SCOPUS:85078810480
SN - 0265-9247
VL - 42
JO - BioEssays
JF - BioEssays
IS - 3
M1 - 1900207
ER -