Studies of membrane protein interactions (Bio-X)
- Reference number
- A3 05:177
- Start and end dates
- 050101-080930
- Amount granted
- 5 000 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Stockholm University
- Research area
- Life Science Technology
Summary
BX-147 von Heijne - Widengren Studies of membrane protein interactions Project Summary: Objectives, expected results, summary of the Project plan All genomes contain a large fraction of membrane proteins, and membrane proteins constitute more than half of all drug targets. These proteins have to a large extent been ignored in most high-throughput experimental studies as they are notoriously difficult to handle. In particular, the interactions networks formed including membrane proteins is an important area of study in the post-genome era and in the current efforts to understand the interaction networks within a cell. Here, we propose a multidisciplinary project aimed at studying the interactions between membrane proteins themselves, and between membrane proteins and the lipid bilayer. We will use a unique combination proteomics, spectroscopic methods and theoretical methods to obtain an increased understanding of such interactions. The study of protein interactions in general and membrane protein interactions in particular can be divided into two major problem areas; (i) identification of protein complexes and interacting proteins, and (ii) studies of protein interactions to understand the underlying physiochemical rules. These questions can be properly addressed only by new combinations of biochemical, bioinformatical, and biophysical techniques. Very few places in the world can assembly such a cross-disciplinary research team in the membrane protein area; here, we propose to bring together the complementing competencies at the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, SU, the Department of Physics, KTH, and Stockholm Bioinformatics Center to address these questions.