Structural studies of biological membranes using ESEEM spectroscopy of spin labels and deuterium substitution

Abstract

Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy in conjunction with biochemical techniques of site-directed spin labeling and deuterium substitution in molecules or parts of molecules can be used to gain insights into supramolecular structure of biological membranes. The review covers the applications of this approach to study water penetration into the hydrophobic part of model phospholipid membranes and into the ion channels of biological membranes, to determine the localization and orientation of peptide antibiotics in membranes, and to investigate the conformations of enzymes and membrane proteins.