Amphipol-Trapped ExbB–ExbD Membrane Protein Complex from Escherichia coli: A Biochemical and Structural Case Study

Aleksandr Sverzhinsky, Shuo Qian, Lin Yang, Marc Allaire, Isabel Moraes, Dewang Ma, Jacqueline W. Chung, Manuela Zoonens, Jean Luc Popot, James W. Coulton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nutrient import across Gram-negative bacteria’s outer membrane is powered by the proton-motive force, delivered by the cytoplasmic membrane protein complex ExbB–ExbD–TonB. Having purified the ExbB4–ExbD2 complex in the detergent dodecyl maltoside, we substituted amphipol A8-35 for detergent, forming a water-soluble membrane protein/amphipol complex. Properties of the ExbB4–ExbD2 complex in detergent or in amphipols were compared by gel electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography, asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation, thermal stability assays, and electron microscopy. Bound detergent and fluorescently labeled amphipol were assayed quantitatively by 1D NMR and analytical ultracentrifugation, respectively. The structural arrangement of ExbB4–ExbD2 was examined by EM, small-angle X-ray scattering, and small-angle neutron scattering using a deuterated amphipol. The amphipol-trapped ExbB4–ExbD2 complex is slightly larger than its detergent-solubilized counterpart. We also investigated a different oligomeric form of the two proteins, ExbB6–ExbD4, and propose a structural arrangement of its transmembrane α-helical domains.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1005-1018
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Membrane Biology
Volume247
Issue number9-10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 14 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Keywords

  • Amphipol
  • Detergent
  • EM
  • Membrane protein complex
  • SAXS/SANS

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