Biochemistry I   Spring & Fall Terms

Bacteriorhodopsin Structure

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  a-Helix (length, 22 residues)
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Bacteriorhodopsin Structure
Bacteriorhodopsin (Cartoons, colored structure) is shown with one layer of phospholipid and several layers of water. The retinal chromophore is Spacefill, colored purple. The extracellular side is at bottom.
These features were noted in Lecture 24 (F'02):
  The protein has seven a-helices that span the bilayer.
  The membrane-exposed surface is highly hydrophobic.
  The charged/polar residues are at the solvent interfaces and also line the internal hydrophilic channel.
11.10.99: Problem Set #10, question 3 (F'99):
  Side chains of polar residues in the channel (Ball & Stick).

A Membrane Protein for Modern/Cell Biology shows this structure embedded in a larger chunk of bilayer membrane.

Four more membrane protein structures:
 Bacteriorhodopsin       K+-Channel       Maltoporin       a-Hemolysin       Reaction Center

Back to the Protein Structure List.

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8.21.04