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Oligomeric complexes in membrane pore formation

ReferenceB13531
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor Helen Saibil
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution Birkbeck College
DepartmentBiological Sciences
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 363,204
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 01/04/2001
End date 01/04/2006
Duration60 months

Abstract

Pore-forming toxins and immune system components lyse target cells by assembling into membrane-bound, oligomeric pores. We have recently shown that it is possible to determine oligomeric pore structures in liposomes by single particle cryo-EM and 3D reconstruction. The resulting density maps, combined with atomic structure information on the soluble monomer, provide powerful tools for discerning the dramatic conformational changes that mediate the transformation of a soluble protein into a membrane-inserted pore. We plan to study the mechanism of pore formation by the bacterial toxin pneumolysin and, by the cytolytic mediator, perforin and the complement membrane attack complex in the immune response.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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