The surfactant peptide KL4 sequence is inserted with a transmembrane orientation into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

ABSTRACT: Surfactant protein B (SP-B) is an essential component of pulmonary surfactant. Synthetic surfactant peptide KL(4), a peptide based on a C-terminal amphipathic helical region of human SP-B, efficiently mimics some functional properties of SP-B and is included in therapeutic surfactant preparations used in trials to treat respiratory distress syndrome. The membrane orientation of this peptide is controversial. We used an in vitro transcription-translation system to study the insertion of hydrophobic sequences into microsomal membranes, and showed that the KL(4) sequence integrates efficiently with a transmembrane orientation despite the presence of intermittent lysines throughout the sequence. In contrast, the precise sequence of the C-terminal SP-B amphipathic region failed to integrate, in

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Gil L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2527282 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature