To use all functions of this page, please activate cookies in your browser.
my.bionity.com
With an accout for my.bionity.com you can always see everything at a glance – and you can configure your own website and individual newsletter.
- My watch list
- My saved searches
- My saved topics
- My newsletter
Membrane protein
A membrane protein is a protein molecule that is attached to, or associated with the membrane of a cell or an organelle. More than half of all proteins interact with membranes. Membrane proteins can be classified into two groups, based on the strength of their association with the membrane. Additional recommended knowledge
Main categoriesIntegral membrane proteins are permanently attached to the membrane. They can be defined as those proteins which require a detergent (such as SDS or Triton X-100) or some other apolar solvent to be displaced. They can be classified according to their relationship with the bilayer:
Peripheral membrane proteins are temporarily attached either to the lipid bilayer or to integral proteins by a combination of hydrophobic, electrostatic, and other non-covalent interactions. Peripheral proteins dissociate following treatment with a polar reagent, such as a solution with an elevated pH or high salt concentrations. Integral and peripheral proteins may be post-translationally modified, with added fatty acid or prenyl chains, or GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol), which may be anchored in the lipid bilayer.
Membrane-bound peptidesThere are also numerous membrane-associated peptides, some of which are nonribosomal peptides. They can form transmembrane channels (for example, gramicidins and peptaibols[2][3]), travel across the membrane as ionophores (valinomycin and others), or associate with lipid bilayer surface, as daptomycin and other lipopeptides. These peptides are usually secreted. So, they probably should be classified as amphitropic, although some of them are poorly soluble in water and associate with membrane irreversibly. Further reading
See also
References
Categories: Membrane biology | Membrane proteins |
|||||||
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Membrane_protein". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |