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Critical segment of apocytochrome c for its insertion into membrane

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Abstract

Apocytochrome c has a potent ability to insert spontaneously into membrane. To identify which sequences were critical for this insertion activity, a series of peptides N19, C8, C15 and C21, corresponding to sequences 1–19, 81–88, 74–88 and 68–88 of apocytochrome c, respectively, were synthesized and purified. Insertion ability into phospholipid monolayer, intrinsic fluorescence emission spectra, and the accessibility of peptide C21 to fluorescence quenchers: KI, acrylamide and HB showed that only segment 68–88 could insert into membrane, while other segments did not. CD spectra demonstrated that its interaction with liposomes containing negatively charged phospholipid could induce a partial α-helical conformation in peptide C21. It is interesting to note that a cooperation exists between segment 68–88 and 1–19 in the insertion of apocytochrome c and consequently translocation across membrane. (Mol Cell Biochem 262: 61–69, 2004)

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Wang, X., Han, X. & Yang, F. Critical segment of apocytochrome c for its insertion into membrane. Mol Cell Biochem 262, 61–69 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:MCBI.0000038216.13105.08

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:MCBI.0000038216.13105.08

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