On the energetics of translocon-assisted insertion of charged transmembrane helices into membranes.

ABSTRACT: The understanding of the mechanism of insertion of transmembrane (TM) helixes through the translocon presents a major open challenge. Although the experimental information about the partition of the inserted helices between the membrane and the solution contains crucial information about this process, it is not clear how to extract this information. In particular, it is not clear how to rationalize the small apparent insertion energy, ΔG(app), of an ionized residue in the center of a TM helix. Here we explore the nature of the insertion energies, asking what should be the value of these parameters if their measurements represent equilibrium conditions. This is done using a coarse-grained model with advanced electrostatic treatment. Estimating the energetics of ionized arginine of a TM heli

SUBMITTER: Rychkova A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2955132 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature