Structural analysis of membrane-bound proteins using synchrotron-radiation circular-dichroism and linear-dichroism spectroscopy

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06587
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43040:Biophysics-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuo Koichi 広島大学, 放射光科学研究センター, 准教授 (40403620)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 放射光 / 円二色性 / タンパク質 / 生体膜 / ミエリン / 抗菌性ペプチド / 直線二色性 / 分子動力学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Interaction of proteins with lipid membranes plays a key role in the manifestations of various biological phenomena such as myelin formation around neuron cell and antimicrobial activity in immune system. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the phenomena, it is important to characterize the membrane-bound conformation of proteins in the presence of bilayer liposomes . In this study, vacuum-ultraviolet circular dichroism (VUVCD) spectroscopy was used to characterize the conformations of three types of membrane-bound proteins (α1-acid glycoprotein, myelin basic protein, and magainin 2 peptide). All the findings suggested that VUVCD and its combination with experimental (linear dichroism and fluorescence) and theoretical (molecular dynamics simulation) methods can provide useful information on the interaction mechanism between proteins and lipid membranes, revealing the structure-function relationships at molecular level.

Free Research Field

生物物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、蛋白質が細胞膜と相互作用することで起こる健康や疾患に関係する様々な生命機能のメカニズムを分子レベルで追跡する手法の構築に寄与した点で、学術的意義がある。本手法は、細胞内への物質輸送やパーキンソン病などの疾病メカニズムを解明するための基礎的なデータを提供することができ、将来は健康促進や治療戦略に貢献すると期待される点で社会的意義がある。