Week Number: 12
Seminar Date: Friday 27th October
Time: 12pm – 1pm
Module: Cell Biology BI503
The Membrane and protein movement continued…
Membrane protein movement is often restricted in several ways:
1) Cytoskeleton interactions – red blood cells interact with the sceptrin meshwork. This allows
red blood cells to form a strong meshwork across the membrane, making them strong
enough withstand forces within the blood vessels.
Membrane proteins modify the organisation and structure of a membrane. (image) 3 ways in
which non transmembrane proteins can bend membranes:
1) Reticulons – hydrophobic domains inserted into one leaflet of membrane.
2) Nips for the nuclear pore – proteins form rigid scaffold on one side of the membrane
causing curvature of the membrane.
3) Proteins that interact with specific lipids i.e. large headgroup lipids like phosphoinositide.
Example: ATP synthase aggregates which restricts its movement and changes the structure of the
membrane to form tubes and different shapes. Not only do the membranes influence the proteins
but the proteins also influence the membranes i.e. TMEM16 can thin the membrane to allow for
more efficient scrambling.
Research Highlight: probing the mechanism of a transporter associated with human metabolic
disease.
Membrane proteins are important for cellular functions and understanding what they look like.
How they function is key to:
1) Treating diseases associated with malfunction of proteins i.e. CFTR (cystic fibrosis)
2) Targeting proteins for inhibition in the prevention of diseases i.e. multidrug efflux pumps
3) Targeting proteins to improve human health and healthcare I.e. understanding pain signaling
by TRP channels.
RECAP of: Transporters, the functional characterisation of vsINDY and mechanisms associated to
this.
Membrane transport: membranes are selectively permeable. The gate keepers for this process are
channels (holes in the membrane that are gated, when open they have fast transport rates) and
transporters (much slower and enhance electro transferase gradients which help with transport).
Active transports:
1
Seminar Date: Friday 27th October
Time: 12pm – 1pm
Module: Cell Biology BI503
The Membrane and protein movement continued…
Membrane protein movement is often restricted in several ways:
1) Cytoskeleton interactions – red blood cells interact with the sceptrin meshwork. This allows
red blood cells to form a strong meshwork across the membrane, making them strong
enough withstand forces within the blood vessels.
Membrane proteins modify the organisation and structure of a membrane. (image) 3 ways in
which non transmembrane proteins can bend membranes:
1) Reticulons – hydrophobic domains inserted into one leaflet of membrane.
2) Nips for the nuclear pore – proteins form rigid scaffold on one side of the membrane
causing curvature of the membrane.
3) Proteins that interact with specific lipids i.e. large headgroup lipids like phosphoinositide.
Example: ATP synthase aggregates which restricts its movement and changes the structure of the
membrane to form tubes and different shapes. Not only do the membranes influence the proteins
but the proteins also influence the membranes i.e. TMEM16 can thin the membrane to allow for
more efficient scrambling.
Research Highlight: probing the mechanism of a transporter associated with human metabolic
disease.
Membrane proteins are important for cellular functions and understanding what they look like.
How they function is key to:
1) Treating diseases associated with malfunction of proteins i.e. CFTR (cystic fibrosis)
2) Targeting proteins for inhibition in the prevention of diseases i.e. multidrug efflux pumps
3) Targeting proteins to improve human health and healthcare I.e. understanding pain signaling
by TRP channels.
RECAP of: Transporters, the functional characterisation of vsINDY and mechanisms associated to
this.
Membrane transport: membranes are selectively permeable. The gate keepers for this process are
channels (holes in the membrane that are gated, when open they have fast transport rates) and
transporters (much slower and enhance electro transferase gradients which help with transport).
Active transports:
1
