The Role of Small Single Transmembrane Helix Proteins in Cyanobacteria

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Membrane protein complexes play a crucial role in bioenergetics, particularly in photosynthetic organisms like plants, algae and cyanobacteria, as they are responsible for the light-to-chemical energy conversion in the primary reactions of photosynthesis. All of them – as far as being analyzed – contain up to 10 small (<50 AA) proteins with at least one single transmembrane helix (sTMH proteins). However, the discovery and further characterization of sTMH proteins is severely hampered by their small size and often extreme hydrophobicity. We will use two different approaches to shed light on the role of sTMH proteins in cyanobacteria. In a top-down approach we will use our well-established pipeline for the purification of affinity-tagged membrane protein complexes and subsequent in-depth mass spectrometry analysis. For a bottom-up approach, we have identified potential sTMH candidates through an in silico screening, which will be further analyzed by biochemical and biophysical methods. Final goal will be to gain comprehensive knowledge about the molecular function of sTMH proteins in cyanobacteria.