scholarly journals A microfluidic strategy for the detection of membrane protein interactions

Lab on a Chip ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 3230-3238
Author(s):  
Yuewen Zhang ◽  
Therese W. Herling ◽  
Stefan Kreida ◽  
Quentin A. E. Peter ◽  
Tadas Kartanas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Native Solution ◽  
Exchange Of Information ◽  
Extracellular Environment

Membrane proteins are gatekeepers for exchange of information and matter between the intracellular and extracellular environment. This paper opens up a route to probe membrane protein interactions under native solution conditions using microfluidics.

scholarly journals Insights into the Role of Membrane Lipids in the Structure, Function and Regulation of Integral Membrane Proteins

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 9026
Author(s):  
Kenta Renard ◽  
Bernadette Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Highly Hydrophobic ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
And Function

Membrane proteins exist within the highly hydrophobic membranes surrounding cells and organelles, playing key roles in cellular function. It is becoming increasingly clear that the membrane does not just act as an appropriate environment for these proteins, but that the lipids that make up these membranes are essential for membrane protein structure and function. Recent technological advances in cryogenic electron microscopy and in advanced mass spectrometry methods, as well as the development of alternative membrane mimetic systems, have allowed experimental study of membrane protein–lipid complexes. These have been complemented by computational approaches, exploiting the ability of Molecular Dynamics simulations to allow exploration of membrane protein conformational changes in membranes with a defined lipid content. These studies have revealed the importance of lipids in stabilising the oligomeric forms of membrane proteins, mediating protein–protein interactions, maintaining a specific conformational state of a membrane protein and activity. Here we review some of the key recent advances in the field of membrane protein–lipid studies, with major emphasis on respiratory complexes, transporters, channels and G-protein coupled receptors.

scholarly journals Synaptic vesicle membrane proteins interact to form a multimeric complex.

1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 761-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
M K Bennett ◽  
N Calakos ◽  
T Kreiner ◽  
R H Scheller
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Synaptic Vesicle ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Vesicle Membrane ◽  
Multicomponent Complex ◽  
Membrane Components

Potential interactions between membrane components of rat brain synaptic vesicles were analyzed by detergent solubilization followed by size fractionation or immunoprecipitation. The behavior of six synaptic vesicle membrane proteins as well as a plasma membrane protein was monitored by Western blotting. Solubilization of synaptic vesicle membranes in CHAPS resulted in the recovery of a large protein complex that included SV2, p65, p38, vesicle-associated membrane protein, and the vacuolar proton pump. Solubilization in octylglucoside resulted in the preservation of interactions between SV2, p38, and rab3A, while solubilization of synaptic vesicles with Triton X-100 resulted in two predominant interactions, one involving p65 and SV2, and the other involving p38 and vesicle-associated membrane protein. The multicomponent complex preserved with CHAPS solubilization was partially reconstituted following octylglucoside solubilization and subsequent dialysis against CHAPS. Reduction of the CHAPS concentration by gel filtration chromatography resulted in increased recovery of the multicomponent complex. Examination of the large complex isolated from CHAPS-solubilized vesicles by negative stain EM revealed structures with multiple globular domains, some of which were specifically labeled with gold-conjugated antibodies directed against p65 and SV2. The protein interactions defined in this report are likely to underlie aspects of neurotransmitter secretion, membrane traffic, and the spatial organization of vesicles within the nerve terminal.

scholarly journals A bimolecular fluorescence complementation flow cytometry screen for membrane protein interactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Schmitz ◽  
Jessica Glas ◽  
Richard Neutze ◽  
Kristina Hedfalk
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation ◽  
Cellular Environment ◽  
Fluorescence Complementation ◽  
Bimolecular Fluorescence

AbstractInteractions between membrane proteins within a cellular environment are crucial for all living cells. Robust methods to screen and analyse membrane protein complexes are essential to shed light on the molecular mechanism of membrane protein interactions. Most methods for detecting protein:protein interactions (PPIs) have been developed to target the interactions of soluble proteins. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays allow the formation of complexes involving PPI partners to be visualized in vivo, irrespective of whether or not these interactions are between soluble or membrane proteins. In this study, we report the development of a screening approach which utilizes BiFC and applies flow cytometry to characterize membrane protein interaction partners in the host Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These data allow constructive complexes to be discriminated with statistical confidence from random interactions and potentially allows an efficient screen for PPIs in vivo within a high-throughput setup.

scholarly journals The high-resolution structure of cell membranes revealed by in situ cryo-electron tomography

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanfang Zhao ◽  
Sihang Cheng ◽  
Yang Yu ◽  
Tianyi Zou ◽  
Huili Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Cell Membranes ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Structure Characterization ◽  
Cryo Electron Tomography

As the structural unit of life, cell is defined by the membrane system. The cell membrane separates the internal and external environment of the cell, and the endomembrane system defines the organelles to perform different functions1-3. However, lack of tools to in situ observe membrane proteins at a molecular resolution has limited our understanding of membrane organization and membrane protein interactions. Here we characterize the high-resolution 3D structure of human red blood cell (hRBC) membranes and the membrane proteins for the first time in situ by cryo-electron tomography (CryoET)4-7. By analyzing tomograms, we have obtained the first fine three-dimensional (3D) structure of hRBC membranes and found the asymmetrical distribution of membrane proteins on both sides of the membranes. We found that the membrane proteins are mainly located on the cytoplasmic side of hRBC membranes, with protein sizes ranging from 6nm to 8nm, in contrast to the ectoplasmic side with basically no proteins. Quantitative analysis of the density of hRBC membrane proteins shows that the membranes with higher protein occupancy have less phospholipid, making the membranes more rigid. Meanwhile, we obtained the channel protein-like structures by preliminary analysis of the membrane protein. Our results represent the first in situ structure characterization of the cell membranes and membrane proteins through cryoET and opens the door for understanding the biological functions of cell membranes in their physiological environments.

TMCC3 localizes at the three-way junctions for the proper tubular network of the endoplasmic reticulum

2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (21) ◽  
pp. 3241-3260
Author(s):  
Sindhu Wisesa ◽  
Yasunori Yamamoto ◽  
Toshiaki Sakisaka
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Transmembrane Domains ◽  
Domain Family ◽  
Coiled Coil Domain ◽  
U2os Cells ◽  
Er Membrane

The tubular network of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is formed by connecting ER tubules through three-way junctions. Two classes of the conserved ER membrane proteins, atlastins and lunapark, have been shown to reside at the three-way junctions so far and be involved in the generation and stabilization of the three-way junctions. In this study, we report TMCC3 (transmembrane and coiled-coil domain family 3), a member of the TEX28 family, as another ER membrane protein that resides at the three-way junctions in mammalian cells. When the TEX28 family members were transfected into U2OS cells, TMCC3 specifically localized at the three-way junctions in the peripheral ER. TMCC3 bound to atlastins through the C-terminal transmembrane domains. A TMCC3 mutant lacking the N-terminal coiled-coil domain abolished localization to the three-way junctions, suggesting that TMCC3 localized independently of binding to atlastins. TMCC3 knockdown caused a decrease in the number of three-way junctions and expansion of ER sheets, leading to a reduction of the tubular ER network in U2OS cells. The TMCC3 knockdown phenotype was partially rescued by the overexpression of atlastin-2, suggesting that TMCC3 knockdown would decrease the activity of atlastins. These results indicate that TMCC3 localizes at the three-way junctions for the proper tubular ER network.

Simulation studies of the interactions between membrane proteins and detergents

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 910-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Bond ◽  
J. Cuthbertson ◽  
M.S.P. Sansom
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Kinetic Mechanism ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Simulation Studies ◽  
High Resolution Data ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Detergent Interactions

Interactions between membrane proteins and detergents are important in biophysical and structural studies and are also biologically relevant in the context of folding and transport. Despite a paucity of high-resolution data on protein–detergent interactions, novel methods and increased computational power enable simulations to provide a means of understanding such interactions in detail. Simulations have been used to compare the effect of lipid or detergent on the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins. Moreover, some of the longest and most complex simulations to date have been used to observe the spontaneous formation of membrane protein–detergent micelles. Common mechanistic steps in the micelle self-assembly process were identified for both α-helical and β-barrel membrane proteins, and a simple kinetic mechanism was proposed. Recently, simplified (i.e. coarse-grained) models have been utilized to follow long timescale transitions in membrane protein–detergent assemblies.

scholarly journals Membrane recruitment of Atg8 by Hfl1 facilitates turnover of vacuolar membrane proteins in yeast cells approaching stationary phase

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Wen He ◽  
Xue-Fei Cui ◽  
Shao-Jie Ma ◽  
Qin Xu ◽  
Yan-Peng Ran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Stationary Phase ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Multivesicular Body ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Vacuolar Membrane ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Membrane Structures ◽  
Membrane Recruitment

Abstract Background The vacuole/lysosome is the final destination of autophagic pathways, but can also itself be degraded in whole or in part by selective macroautophagic or microautophagic processes. Diverse molecular mechanisms are involved in these processes, the characterization of which has lagged behind those of ATG-dependent macroautophagy and ESCRT-dependent endosomal multivesicular body pathways. Results Here we show that as yeast cells gradually exhaust available nutrients and approach stationary phase, multiple vacuolar integral membrane proteins with unrelated functions are degraded in the vacuolar lumen. This degradation depends on the ESCRT machinery, but does not strictly require ubiquitination of cargos or trafficking of cargos out of the vacuole. It is also temporally and mechanistically distinct from NPC-dependent microlipophagy. The turnover is facilitated by Atg8, an exception among autophagy proteins, and an Atg8-interacting vacuolar membrane protein, Hfl1. Lack of Atg8 or Hfl1 led to the accumulation of enlarged lumenal membrane structures in the vacuole. We further show that a key function of Hfl1 is the membrane recruitment of Atg8. In the presence of Hfl1, lipidation of Atg8 is not required for efficient cargo turnover. The need for Hfl1 can be partially bypassed by blocking Atg8 delipidation. Conclusions Our data reveal a vacuolar membrane protein degradation process with a unique dependence on vacuole-associated Atg8 downstream of ESCRTs, and we identify a specific role of Hfl1, a protein conserved from yeast to plants and animals, in membrane targeting of Atg8.

scholarly journals Fast Diffusion of the Unassembled PetC1-GFP Protein in the Cyanobacterial Thylakoid Membrane

Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Radek Kaňa ◽  
Gábor Steinbach ◽  
Roman Sobotka ◽  
György Vámosi ◽  
Josef Komenda
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Thylakoid Membrane ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Membrane Microdomains ◽  
Fast Diffusion ◽  
Light Harvesting Complexes ◽  
Term Survival

Biological membranes were originally described as a fluid mosaic with uniform distribution of proteins and lipids. Later, heterogeneous membrane areas were found in many membrane systems including cyanobacterial thylakoids. In fact, cyanobacterial pigment–protein complexes (photosystems, phycobilisomes) form a heterogeneous mosaic of thylakoid membrane microdomains (MDs) restricting protein mobility. The trafficking of membrane proteins is one of the key factors for long-term survival under stress conditions, for instance during exposure to photoinhibitory light conditions. However, the mobility of unbound ‘free’ proteins in thylakoid membrane is poorly characterized. In this work, we assessed the maximal diffusional ability of a small, unbound thylakoid membrane protein by semi-single molecule FCS (fluorescence correlation spectroscopy) method in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. We utilized a GFP-tagged variant of the cytochrome b6f subunit PetC1 (PetC1-GFP), which was not assembled in the b6f complex due to the presence of the tag. Subsequent FCS measurements have identified a very fast diffusion of the PetC1-GFP protein in the thylakoid membrane (D = 0.14 − 2.95 µm2s−1). This means that the mobility of PetC1-GFP was comparable with that of free lipids and was 50–500 times higher in comparison to the mobility of proteins (e.g., IsiA, LHCII—light-harvesting complexes of PSII) naturally associated with larger thylakoid membrane complexes like photosystems. Our results thus demonstrate the ability of free thylakoid-membrane proteins to move very fast, revealing the crucial role of protein–protein interactions in the mobility restrictions for large thylakoid protein complexes.

scholarly journals Membrane Protein Stabilization Strategies for Structural and Functional Studies

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Ekaitz Errasti-Murugarren ◽  
Paola Bartoccioni ◽  
Manuel Palacín
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Lipid Membrane ◽  
Protein Stabilization ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Protein Preparation ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Membrane Protein Stability ◽  
Druggable Targets

Accounting for nearly two-thirds of known druggable targets, membrane proteins are highly relevant for cell physiology and pharmacology. In this regard, the structural determination of pharmacologically relevant targets would facilitate the intelligent design of new drugs. The structural biology of membrane proteins is a field experiencing significant growth as a result of the development of new strategies for structure determination. However, membrane protein preparation for structural studies continues to be a limiting step in many cases due to the inherent instability of these molecules in non-native membrane environments. This review describes the approaches that have been developed to improve membrane protein stability. Membrane protein mutagenesis, detergent selection, lipid membrane mimics, antibodies, and ligands are described in this review as approaches to facilitate the production of purified and stable membrane proteins of interest for structural and functional studies.

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