• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2000

An unusually large protein complex was found in the cytosol of the hyperthmophilic archaeon. Thermococcus profundus. The purified protein was shown to be a homomultimer of 93 kDa subunit (P93 complex). The complex is extremely heat stable. During 12 hrs incubation with SDS (final concentration 1%) at $85^{\circ}C$, no changed structure could be observed. Electron image analysis of negatively stained showed that the complex has a single, stable characteristic view and a well-preserved core with threefold rotational symmetry. The periphery of the assembly is composed of a nebulose, possibly flexible, component. Based on the projected structure suggest the P93 complex from T. profundus is composed 24 homomultimer.