Vertebrate membrane proteins: structure, function, and insights from biophysical approaches.

ABSTRACT: Membrane proteins are key targets for pharmacological intervention because they are vital for cellular function. Here, we analyze recent progress made in the understanding of the structure and function of membrane proteins with a focus on rhodopsin and development of atomic force microscopy techniques to study biological membranes. Membrane proteins are compartmentalized to carry out extra- and intracellular processes. Biological membranes are densely populated with membrane proteins that occupy approximately 50% of their volume. In most cases membranes contain lipid rafts, protein patches, or paracrystalline formations that lack the higher-order symmetry that would allow them to be characterized by diffraction methods. Despite many technical difficulties, several crystal structures of mem

SUBMITTER: Muller DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2561275 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature