Determination of the fractal dimension of membrane protein aggregates using fluorescence energy transfer

Biophys J. 1989 Aug;56(2):415-20. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(89)82687-6.

Abstract

It is demonstrated that fluorescence resonance energy transfer may be used to determine the fractal dimension of aggregates of membrane-bound proteins. Theoretical and experimental results are presented for two different experimental designs: energy transfer between proteins and energy transfer from lipids to proteins. For energy transfer between proteins the lattice spacing must be known independently for a fractal dimension to be uniquely determined, and this represents a disadvantage to this experimental design. Results are presented for the calcium ATPase and a fractal dimension of 1.9 is estimated for ATPase aggregates by assuming a lattice spacing of 50 A. Energy transfer from lipids to protein provides a means of estimating the length of the "coast-line" of the aggregate. In this case the fractal dimension is uniquely determined from a log-log plot. An analysis of data for bacteriohodopsin reconstituted in phospholipid vesicles gives a fractal dimension of 1.6. The structural basis of the value for the fractal dimension is discussed for these two systems. These techniques provide a means of assessing the nature of protein-protein interactions in membranous systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases / metabolism*
  • Energy Transfer
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Mathematics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Protein Conformation
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases