Work

Structure determination of channel and transport proteins by high-resolution microscopy techniques

Year: 2011

Type: review

Abstract: High-resolution microscopy techniques provide a plethora of information on biological structures from the cellular level down to the molecular level. In this review, we present the unique capabilities of transmission electron and atomic force microscopy to assess the structure, oligomeric state, function and dynamics of channel and transport proteins in their native environment, the lipid bilayer. Most importantly, membrane proteins can be visualized in the frozen-hydrated state and in buffer solution by cryo-transmission electron and atomic force microscopy, respectively. We also illustrate the potential of the scintillation proximity assay to study substrate binding of detergent-solubilized transporters prior to crystallization and structural characterization.

Source: Biological Chemistry

DOI: 10.1515/bc.2011.004

Authors: Marcel Meury, Daniel Harder, Zöhre Ucurum, Rajendra Boggavarapu, Jean-Marc Jeckelmann, Dimitrios Fotiadis

Institution: University of Bern

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications

Subfield: Structural Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Novartis Foundation, European Science Foundation, UniBern Forschungsstiftung

Awards: G4425201391, G487196869