The structure of polypeptides and membrane proteins involved in pore formation and transport processes

The conformations of melittin, porin, and lactose permease reconstituted in liposomal membranes were investigated by Raman spectroscopy, and the folding of membrane domains was predicted. These data resulted in consistent models for the insertion of the proteins in lipid bilayers and for the formation of hydrophilic channels and pores from regions of amphipathic secondary structure. [on SciFinder (R)]