The influence of sugar-protein complexes on the thermostability of C-reactive protein (CRP)

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate de influence of glycosylation on the stability and functionality of C-reactive protein, after exposure to constant high temperatures. C-reactive protein is a plasmatic protein used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of a series of health problems such as ulcerative colitis, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, due to its essential role in the evolution of chronic inflammation. The sugar-protein interaction was investigated using steady state and time resolved fluorescence. The results revealed that there are more than two classes of tryptophan, with different degree of accessibility for the quencher molecule. Our study also revealed that sugar-protein complexes have superior thermostability, the protein being stable and functional even after 22 days exposure to 40 o C.