Lipid conformational considerations

These data demonstrate that both GSH and GSSG have profound effects on Na/K ATPase activity and may act in concert to modify enzyme activity during oxidant stress. However, it should be recognized that the steric conformation of an isolated enzyme preparation in a chemically buffered solution may be considerably different to the native enzyme located in a dynamic lipid bilayer. For this reason, these investigations have been extended to include a variety of preparations in which the Na/K pump is in its native environment. 

The observation by Maddy and Malcolm (53) that the amide I band of bovine erythrocyte ghosts in D20 is not shifted is remarkable because it implies that all of the membrane protein is either deeply buried in an environment of hydrophobic lipids or exists in a tightly folded a-helical conformation. We have examined extensively the infrared spectra of bovine erythrocyte ghosts, both as dry films and as intact ghosts in D20 and H20 (73). The results for dry films essentially agree with those of other workers and show no evidence of f3 structure. Little change occurs in water. In D20, however, we consistently obtained a shift in the amide I band and a considerable decrease in absorption of the amide II band. 

To maximize analytical signal generation, the ideal receptor will therefore be chosen or designed by consideration of the electrostatics of the binding site, the location of membrane positioning, intra-membrane protrusion/anchorage, association with adjacent lipids and conformational alteration. 

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