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UV–Visible and Infrared Methods for Investigating Lipid–Rhodopsin Membrane Interactions

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Membrane Protein Structure and Dynamics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 914))

Abstract

We describe experimental UV–visible and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic methods for characterizing lipid–protein interactions for rhodopsin in a membrane bilayer environment. The combination of FTIR and UV–visible difference spectroscopy is used to monitor the structural and functional changes during rhodopsin activation. Investigations of how membrane lipids stabilize various rhodopsin photoproducts are analogous to mutating the protein in terms of gain or loss of function. Interpretation of the results entails a flexible surface model for explaining membrane lipid–protein interactions through material properties relevant to biological activity.

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Acknowledgments

The author is indebted to A. V. Botelho, J. J. Kinnun, J. W. Lewis, K. Martínez-Mayorga, B. Mertz, A. V. Struts, and R. Vogel for discussions. Research in the laboratory of the author is supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Michael F. Brown

  2. Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Michael F. Brown

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  1. Michael F. Brown
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Correspondence to Michael F. Brown .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Division of Immunology, Beckman Research Institute of the City o, E. Duarte Road 1500, Duarte, 91010, USA

    Nagarajan Vaidehi

  2. , Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medic, Fifth Avenue 3501, Pittsburgh, 15261, USA

    Judith Klein-Seetharaman

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Brown, M.F. (2012). UV–Visible and Infrared Methods for Investigating Lipid–Rhodopsin Membrane Interactions. In: Vaidehi, N., Klein-Seetharaman, J. (eds) Membrane Protein Structure and Dynamics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 914. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-023-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-023-6_8

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-022-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-023-6

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