New routes to membrane protein structures. Practical course: current methods in membrane protein research.

Abstract

The EMBO Practical Course on ‘Current methods in membrance protien research’ was held at EMBL in Heidelberg, Germany, June 21–30 2000 (organized by Irmi Sinning and Matti Saraste). ![][1] Membrane proteins are essential for cellular life: they contribute to the multitude of processes whereby cells interact with their environment, generate energy and maintain their cellular milieu and structure. Consequently, about a quarter of the genes in most genomes encode membrane proteins. Due to the nature of their environment in the hydrophobic lipid bilayer, membrane proteins are generally much more difficult to study than are soluble proteins, a problem which becomes apparent both when trying to obtain crystals and when attempting to determine high‐resolution structures of these proteins. In June 2000, a group of 21 young European scientists assembled at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, for a practical course entitled ‘Current methods in membrane protein research’. Here, they learned the most recent methods available for studying membrane proteins. The course touched on many areas relating to the study of this diverse grouping of proteins. However this review will focus mainly on the subject that is the final aim of many of these methods: the determination of high‐resolution structures of membrane proteins. To initiate these kinds of structural studies, one needs to have a regular supply of milligram quantities of purified membrane protein, preferable solubilized in a detergent in which the protein is still functionally active. Again, this is by no means a trivial task, but the methods that are being developed to facilitate this are beyond the focused theme of this report. ### Packing your protein in 2D Jean‐Louis Rigaud and Gervaise Mosser (Paris, France) described the use of two‐dimensional (2D) crystals of membrane proteins to study their structure using various microscopy techniques. With Bettina Bottcher (Heidelberg, Germany), they also demonstrated methods for obtaining 2D … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif