How can deep-sea organisms survive under extreme pressure? (IMAGE)
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A research team, led by Professor Gaku Fukuhara of Kyushu University’s Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering (IMCE), investigated this biological phenomenon. They focused on PoXeR, a protein from a deep-sea bacterium. Using a custom-built apparatus, they subjected the protein to increasing pressure.
The researchers found that as pressure increased, PoXeR stabilized itself by assembling into groups of three, called trimers. This trimeric structure is well suited for high-pressure environments, enabling the protein to remain stable and functional in the deep sea.
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Kyushu University
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