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Helix insertion into bilayers and the evolution of membrane proteins

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Abstract

Polytopic α-helical membrane proteins cannot spontaneously insert into lipid bilayers without assistance from polytopic α-helical membrane proteins that already reside in the membrane. This raises the question of how these proteins evolved. Our current knowledge of the insertion of α-helices into natural and model membranes is reviewed with the goal of gaining insight into the evolution of membrane proteins. Topics include: translocon-dependent membrane protein insertion, antibiotic peptides and proteins, in vitro insertion of membrane proteins, chaperone-mediated insertion of transmembrane helices, and C-terminal tail-anchored (TA) proteins. Analysis of the E. coli genome reveals several predicted C-terminal TA proteins that may be descendents of proteins involved in pre-cellular membrane protein insertion. Mechanisms of pre-translocon polytopic α-helical membrane protein insertion are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by grants from NIH (G12 RR013646 and R21 DC010071) and from the University of Texas at San Antonio Collaborative Research Seed Grant Program.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, 1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Robert Renthal

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Robert Renthal

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Renthal, R. Helix insertion into bilayers and the evolution of membrane proteins. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 67, 1077–1088 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-009-0234-9

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