Use of EPR power saturation to analyze the membrane-docking geometries of peripheral proteins: applications to C2 domains

Annu Rev Biophys Biomol Struct. 2005:34:71-90. doi: 10.1146/annurev.biophys.34.040204.144534.

Abstract

Despite the central importance of peripheral membrane proteins to cellular signaling and metabolic pathways, the structures of protein-membrane interfaces remain largely inaccessible to high-resolution structural methods. In recent years a number of laboratories have contributed to the development of an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) power saturation approach that utilizes site-directed spin labeling to determine the key geometric parameters of membrane-docked proteins, including their penetration depths and angular orientations relative to the membrane surface. Representative applications to Ca(2+)-activated, membrane-docking C2 domains are described.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteriorhodopsins / chemistry
  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Calcium / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Lipids / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Spin Labels

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Spin Labels
  • Bacteriorhodopsins
  • Calcium