Membrane proteins: from bench to bits.

von Heijne G

Biochem. Soc. Trans. 39 (3) 747-750 [2011-06-00; online 2011-05-24]

Membrane proteins currently receive a lot of attention, in large part thanks to a steady stream of high-resolution X-ray structures. Although the first few structures showed proteins composed of tightly packed bundles of very hydrophobic more or less straight transmembrane α-helices, we now know that helix-bundle membrane proteins can be both highly flexible and contain transmembrane segments that are neither very hydrophobic nor necessarily helical throughout their lengths. This raises questions regarding how membrane proteins are inserted into the membrane and fold in vivo, and also complicates life for bioinformaticians trying to predict membrane protein topology and structure.

Affiliated researcher

PubMed 21599644

DOI 10.1042/BST0390747

Crossref 10.1042/BST0390747

pii: BST0390747


Publications 9.5.0