Measurement of protein stability and protein denaturation in cells using differential scanning calorimetry

Many methods exist for measuring and studying protein denaturation in vitro. However, measuring protein denaturation in cells under conditions relevant to heat shock presents problems due to cellular complexity and high levels of light scattering that interfere with optical techniques. A general method for measuring protein denaturation in cells using high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is given. Profiles of specific heat (c(p) vs. temperature) are obtained providing information about transitions in cellular components including the denaturation of proteins. The specific approaches employed with erythrocytes, bacteria, and mammalian cells are described, and an identification of several features of the DSC profiles is given. Protein denaturation on the level of roughly 7-20% occurs for commonly used heat shocks in mammalian cells.