Combined NMR and EPR spectroscopy to determine structures of viral fusion domains in membranes.

ABSTRACT: Methods are described to determine the structures of viral membrane fusion domains in detergent micelles by NMR and in lipid bilayers by site-directed spin labeling and EPR spectroscopy. Since in favorable cases, the lower-resolution spin label data obtained in lipid bilayers fully support the higher-resolution structures obtained by solution NMR, it is possible to graft the NMR structural coordinates into membranes using the EPR-derived distance restraints to the lipid bilayer. Electron paramagnetic dynamics and distance measurements in bilayers support conclusions drawn from NMR in detergent micelles. When these methods are applied to a structure determination of the influenza virus fusion domain and four point mutations with different functional phenotypes, it is evident that a fixed-an

SUBMITTER: Tamm LK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2213455 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature