Helix insertion into bilayers and the evolution of membrane proteins.

ABSTRACT: Polytopic alpha-helical membrane proteins cannot spontaneously insert into lipid bilayers without assistance from polytopic alpha-helical membrane proteins that already reside in the membrane. This raises the question of how these proteins evolved. Our current knowledge of the insertion of alpha-helices into natural and model membranes is reviewed with the goal of gaining insight into the evolution of membrane proteins. Topics include: translocon-dependent membrane protein insertion, antibiotic peptides and proteins, in vitro insertion of membrane proteins, chaperone-mediated insertion of transmembrane helices, and C-terminal tail-anchored (TA) proteins. Analysis of the E. coli genome reveals several predicted C-terminal TA proteins that may be descendents of proteins involved in pre-cellu

SUBMITTER: Renthal R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2862650 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature