Membrane proteins mechanisms

The mechanism of inhibition has not been characterized, but it is probably related to the ionophoretic properties of these antibiotics. Monensin has been shown to inhibit the intracellular transport of viral membrane proteins of cells infected with Semliki Forest vims (169). The formation of syncytia, normally observed when T-lymphoblastoid cell line (CEM) cells are cocultivated with human immunodeficiency vims (HlV-l)-infected T-ceU leukemia cell line (MOLT-3) cells, was significantly inhibited in the presence of monensin (170). This observation suggests that the viral glycoproteins in the treated cells were not transported to the cell surface from the Golgi membrane. 

FIGURE 5.3 Different types of functional readouts of agonism. Receptors need not mediate cellular response but may demonstrate behaviors such as internalization into the cytoplasm of the cell (mechanism 1). Receptors can also interact with membrane proteins such as G-proteins (mechanism 2) and produce cytosolic messenger molecules (mechanism 3), which can go on to mediate gene expression (mechanism 4). Receptors can also mediate changes in cellular metabolism (mechanism 5). 

Figure 46-5. Variations in the way in which proteins are inserted into membranes. This schematic representation, which illustrates a number of possible orientations, shows the segments of the proteins within the membrane as a-helicesand the other segments as lines. The LDL receptor, which crosses the membrane once and has its amino terminal on the exterior, is called a type I transmembrane protein. The asialoglycoprotein receptor, which also crosses the membrane once but has its carboxyl terminal on the exterior, is called a type II transmembrane protein. The various transporters indicated (eg, glucose) cross the membrane a number of times and are called type III transmembrane proteins they are also referred to as polytopic membrane proteins. (N, amino terminal C, carboxyl terminal.) (Adapted, with permission, from Wickner WT, Lodish HF Multiple mechanisms of protein insertion into and across membranes. Science 1985 230 400. Copyright 1985 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.)...

The mechanism of acquired resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is different. Chromosomal mutations result in the increase of a specific outer membrane protein with a concomitant reduction in divalent cations. Polymyxins bind to the outer membrane at sites normally occupied by divalent cations, and therefore it is thought that a reduction in these sites will lead to decreased binding of the antibiotic with a consequent decreased susceptibility of the cell. 

Taken together, these results indicate that similar to other proton-translocating membrane proteins, both types of Na /H exchangers contain critical sulfhydryl groups that are involved in the transport mechanism. These sulfhydryl groups do not appear to be present at the external transport site but may be involved in switching from an inactive to an activated state. 

The first two volumes in the series New Comprehensive Biochemistry appeared in 1981. Volume 1 dealt with membrane structure and Volume 2 with membrane transport. The editors of the last volume (the present editor being one of them) tried to provide an overview of the state of the art of the research in that field. Most of the chapters dealt with kinetic approaches aiming to understand the mechanism of the various types of transport of ions and metabolites across biological membranes. Although these methods have not lost their significance, the development of molecular biological techniques and their application in this field has given to the area of membrane transport such a new dimension that the appearance of a volume in the series New Comprehensive Biochemistry devoted to molecular aspects of membrane proteins is warranted. 

The mechanisms of the oscillations in biomembranes have been explained based on the gating of membrane protein called an ion channel, and enormous efforts have been made to elucidate the gating process, mainly by reconstitution of channel proteins into bilayer membranes [9-11]. 

Some metals can be converted to a less toxic form through enzyme detoxification. The most well-described example of this mechanism is the mercury resistance system, which occurs in S. aureus,43 Bacillus sp.,44 E. coli,45 Streptomyces lividans,46 and Thiobacillus ferrooxidans 47 The mer operon in these bacteria includes two different metal resistance mechanisms.48 MerA employs an enzyme detoxification approach as it encodes a mercury reductase, which converts the divalent mercury cation into elemental mercury 49 Elemental mercury is more stable and less toxic than the divalent cation. Other genes in the operon encode membrane proteins that are involved in the active transport of elemental mercury out of the cell.50 52... 

Penetration enhancers are low molecular weight compounds that can increase the absorption of poorly absorbed hydrophilic drugs such as peptides and proteins from the nasal, buccal, oral, rectal, and vaginal routes of administration [186], Chelators, bile salts, surfactants, and fatty acids are some examples of penetration enhancers that have been widely tested [186], The precise mechanisms by which these enhancers increase drug penetration are largely unknown. Bile salts, for instance, have been shown to increase the transport of lipophilic cholesterol [187] as well as the pore size of the epithelium [188], indicating enhancement in both transcellular and paracellular transport. Bile salts are known to break down mucus [189], form micelles [190], extract membrane proteins [191], and chelate ions [192], While breakdown of mucus, formation of micelles, and lipid extraction may have contributed predominantly to the bile salt-induced enhancement of transcellular transport, chelation of ions possibly accounts for their effect on the paracellular pathway. In addition to their lack of specificity in enhancing mem-... 

The development of novel pharmaceuticals species is tightly related to the mechanism of interactions between drugs and target integral membrane proteins. Solid-state NMR is highly attractive for these biological systems for two main reasons there is no limitation on molecular mass and it enables to study the membrane protein systems in their native forms. 

Coming, P.A. (2002). Thermoeconomics beyond the second law. J. Bioeconom., 4, 57-88 Everett, D.H. (1959). An Introduction to Chemical Thermodynamics. Longmans, London Kinosita, K., Yasuda, R., Noji, H. and Adachi, K. (2000). A rotary molecular motor that can work at near 100% efficiency. Philos. Trans. Act. Royal Soc. London B, 355, 473—489. See also Proc. Biochem. Soc. (2005) Meeting Mechanics of Bioenergetic Membrane Proteins Structures and... 

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