[Action of hydrostatic pressure on proteins: emergence of high pressure biotechnology, potential pharmaceutical and medical applications].

High pressure engineering of proteins is an emerging biotechnology. The role of pressure in the control of protein stability and reactivity is reviewed. It is shown that a better understanding of the behavior of proteins under extreme pressure and temperature conditions may help to improve biochemical processes under non conventional medial/conditions for enzyme-catalyzed production of fine chemicals and the use of modified proteins of medical or pharmaceutical interest. Moreover, high pressure can be used instead of heart or chemicals for sterilization.