Lipid Membrane Mimetics in Functional and Structural Studies of Integral Membrane Proteins

Integral membrane proteins (IMPs) fulfill important physiological functions by providing cell–environment, cell–cell and virus–host communication; nutrients intake; export of toxic compounds out of cells; and more. However, some IMPs have obliterated functions due to polypeptide mutations, modificat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMembranes (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 9; p. 685
Main Authors Majeed, Saman, Ahmad, Akram Bani, Sehar, Ujala, Georgieva, Elka R.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 03.09.2021
MDPI
Subjects
bicelles
Cell interactions
detergent micelles
Detergents
Dynamic structural analysis
E coli
Environmental factors
Glycerol
Integral membrane proteins
Integrals
lipid membrane mimetics
Lipids
liposomes
Membranes
Mimicry
Mutation
nanodiscs
Nutrients
Physiology
Polypeptides
Proteins
Review
Spectrum analysis
Structure-function relationships
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Summary:Integral membrane proteins (IMPs) fulfill important physiological functions by providing cell–environment, cell–cell and virus–host communication; nutrients intake; export of toxic compounds out of cells; and more. However, some IMPs have obliterated functions due to polypeptide mutations, modifications in membrane properties and/or other environmental factors—resulting in damaged binding to ligands and the adoption of non-physiological conformations that prevent the protein from returning to its physiological state. Thus, elucidating IMPs’ mechanisms of function and malfunction at the molecular level is important for enhancing our understanding of cell and organism physiology. This understanding also helps pharmaceutical developments for restoring or inhibiting protein activity. To this end, in vitro studies provide invaluable information about IMPs’ structure and the relation between structural dynamics and function. Typically, these studies are conducted on transferred from native membranes to membrane-mimicking nano-platforms (membrane mimetics) purified IMPs. Here, we review the most widely used membrane mimetics in structural and functional studies of IMPs. These membrane mimetics are detergents, liposomes, bicelles, nanodiscs/Lipodisqs, amphipols, and lipidic cubic phases. We also discuss the protocols for IMPs reconstitution in membrane mimetics as well as the applicability of these membrane mimetic-IMP complexes in studies via a variety of biochemical, biophysical, and structural biology techniques.
ISSN:2077-0375
2077-0375
DOI:10.3390/membranes11090685