The conformational preference of gramicidin channels is a function of lipid bilayer thickness.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
In order to understand how the material properties of lipid bilayers could affect integral membrane protein function, we examined the effect of a hydrophobic mismatch on the structure and function of membrane-spanning gramicidin channels. Changes in lipid bilayer thickness affect the conformational preference of membrane-spanning gramicidin A (gA) channels (single-stranded [SS] dimers <--> double-stranded [DS] dimers) and induces an additional conductance state in the standard (SS) beta6.3-helical channel. These results provide experimental evidence for the importance of energetic coupling between the bilayer and imbedded inclusions.
