High Pressure Enzymology

Pressure (up to 400 bar) significantly alters the thermal stability and kinetics of enzyme reactions. The goal of this research project is to understand the science of how this happens (e.g., a Pressure equivalent of the Arrhenius Equation, using the Clausius–Clapeyron relation to predict how pressure alters the thermal stability of enzymes in solution) and a set of engineering tools that can be used to predict high-pressure enzyme performance. Future work may include site-directed mutagenesis to modify specific enzymes for better production efficiency under pressure. Lab equipment is available for work up to 2500 bar and temperatures up to 90 C. Through collaborators we have access to a high pressure and temperature NMR.