Adapting to salinity: structural dynamics of the DNA polymerase III beta subunit in Salinibacter ruber.

Halophilic bacteria thrive in high-salt environments through structural modifications in their proteins. One such adaptation is seen in the DNA polymerase III beta subunit, which acts as a "sliding clamp" for the DNA polymerase III, the replication machinery's key enzyme. Like other halophilic proteins, DNA Pol III beta of Salinibacter ruber displays an increased concentration of acidic amino acids, intrinsically disordered regions, and a negatively charged surface.