PRESSURE VERSUS TEMPERATURE BEHAVIOR OF PROTEINS

Pressure and temperature effects an proteins in solution can be divide d into elastic and conformational components. Elastic effects can be i nterpreted in terms of changes in cavities and hydration. Conformation al effects are the consequence of extensive changes in the secondary a nd tertiary structure. The spectroscopic techniques which permit to fo llow these effects are shortly reviewed and infrared spectroscopy is t reated in more detail. Both thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the u nfolding are considered. The basis of possible biotechnological applic ations is discussed.