Balon protein

Balon protein

Context: A protein was discovered that allowed a bacterium, Psychrobacter urativorans, to abruptly shut down in unfavourable living conditions and ‘restart’ just as quickly when they improved.

• It plays a critical role in the dormancy and reactivation mechanisms of the bacterium.
• Unlike other proteins known to cause ribosome hibernation by covering them, Balon directly binds to the ribosomal active sites where amino acids are loaded, thereby halting protein production.
• Significance
• Understanding bacterial survival in extreme environments like the Arctic permafrost.
• Understanding the behaviour of members of the Psychrobacter family that are known for spoiling refrigerated food due to their cold resilience.