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Subunit counting in membrane-bound proteins.

ABSTRACT: The subunit number and stoichiometry of membrane-bound proteins are difficult to determine without disrupting their membrane environment. Here we describe a single-molecule technique for counting subunits of proteins in live cell membranes by observing bleaching steps of GFP fused to a protein of interest. After testing the method with proteins of known stoichiometry expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, we resolved the composition of NMDA receptors composed of NR1 and NR3 subunits.

SUBMITTER: Ulbrich MH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2744285 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Subunit counting in membrane-bound proteins.

Ulbrich Maximilian H MH Isacoff Ehud Y EY

Nature methods 20070318 4

The subunit number and stoichiometry of membrane-bound proteins are difficult to determine without disrupting their membrane environment. Here we describe a single-molecule technique for counting subunits of proteins in live cell membranes by observing bleaching steps of GFP fused to a protein of interest. After testing the method with proteins of known stoichiometry expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, we resolved the composition of NMDA receptors composed of NR1 and NR3 subunits. ...[more]

PMID: 17369835

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Project description:Quantifying the number of charges on peptides bound to interfaces requires reliable estimates of (i) surface coverage and (ii) surface charge, both of which are notoriously difficult parameters to obtain, especially at solid/water interfaces. Here, we report the thermodynamics and electrostatics governing the interactions of l-lysine and l-arginine octamers (Lys8 and Arg8) with supported lipid bilayers prepared from a 9 : 1 mixture of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (sodium salt) (DMPG) from second harmonic generation (SHG) spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and nanoplasmonic sensing (NPS) mass measurements, and atomistic simulations. The combined SHG/QCM-D/NPS approach provides interfacial charge density estimates from mean field theory for the attached peptides that are smaller by a factor of approximately two (0.12 ± 0.03 C m-2 for Lys8 and 0.10 ± 0.02 C m-2 for Arg8) relative to poly-l-lysine and poly-l-arginine. These results, along with atomistic simulations, indicate that the surface charge density of the supported lipid bilayer is neutralized by the attached cationic peptides. Moreover, the number of charges associated with each attached peptide is commensurate with those found in solution; that is, Lys8 and Arg8 are fully ionized when attached to the bilayer. Computer simulations indicate Lys8 is more likely than Arg8 to "stand-up" on the surface, interacting with lipid headgroups through one or two sidechains while Arg8 is more likely to assume a "buried" conformation, interacting with the bilayer through up to six sidechains. Analysis of electrostatic potential and charge distribution from atomistic simulations suggests that the Gouy-Chapman model, which is widely used for mapping surface potential to surface charge, is semi-quantitatively valid; despite considerable orientational preference of interfacial water, the apparent dielectric constant for the interfacial solvent is about 30, due to the thermal fluctuation of the lipid-water interface.

Dataset Information

Subunit counting in membrane-bound proteins.

Publications

Subunit counting in membrane-bound proteins.

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