Similar energetic contributions of packing in the core of membrane and water-soluble proteins

J Am Chem Soc. 2009 Aug 12;131(31):10846-7. doi: 10.1021/ja904711k.

Abstract

A major driving force for water-soluble protein folding is the hydrophobic effect, but membrane proteins cannot make use of this stabilizing contribution in the apolar core of the bilayer. It has been proposed that membrane proteins compensate by packing more efficiently. We therefore investigated packing contributions experimentally by observing the energetic and structural consequences of cavity creating mutations in the core of a membrane protein. We observed little difference in the packing energetics of water and membrane soluble proteins. Our results imply that other mechanisms are employed to stabilize the structure of membrane proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Mutation
  • Protein Folding*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Solubility

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proteins