Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó u. 37-47, 1094 Budapest, Hungary.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 20;23(10):5761. doi: 10.3390/ijms23105761.
Pressure is an equally important thermodynamical parameter as temperature. However, its importance is often overlooked in the biophysical and biochemical investigations of biomolecules and biological systems. This review focuses on the application of high pressure (>100 MPa = 1 kbar) in biology. Studies of high pressure can give insight into the volumetric aspects of various biological systems; this information cannot be obtained otherwise. High-pressure treatment is a potentially useful alternative method to heat-treatment in food science. Elevated pressure (up to 120 MPa) is present in the deep sea, which is a considerable part of the biosphere. From a basic scientific point of view, the application of the gamut of modern spectroscopic techniques provides information about the conformational changes of biomolecules, fluctuations, and flexibility. This paper reviews first the thermodynamic aspects of pressure science, the important parameters affecting the volume of a molecule. The technical aspects of high pressure production are briefly mentioned, and the most common high-pressure-compatible spectroscopic techniques are also discussed. The last part of this paper deals with the main biomolecules, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids: how they are affected by pressure and what information can be gained about them using pressure. I I also briefly mention a few supramolecular structures such as viruses and bacteria. Finally, a subjective view of the most promising directions of high pressure bioscience is outlined.
压力是与温度同等重要的热力学参数。然而，在生物分子和生物系统的生物物理和生物化学研究中，它的重要性常常被忽视。这篇综述专注于高压（>100MPa=1kbar）在生物学中的应用。高压研究可以深入了解各种生物系统的体积方面；否则无法获得此信息。高压处理是食品科学中热处理的一种潜在有用的替代方法。深海中存在着高达 120MPa 的高压，这是生物圈的重要组成部分。从基础科学的角度来看，现代光谱技术的广泛应用提供了有关生物分子构象变化、波动和柔韧性的信息。本文首先回顾了压力科学的热力学方面，即影响分子体积的重要参数。简要提到了高压生产的技术方面，还讨论了最常见的高压相容光谱技术。本文的最后一部分涉及主要的生物分子，如脂质、蛋白质和核酸：它们如何受到压力的影响，以及使用压力可以获得关于它们的哪些信息。我还简要提到了一些超分子结构，如病毒和细菌。最后，概述了高压生物科学最有前途的几个方向的主观观点。
