Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Determining Membrane Protein Topology Using Fluorescence Protease Protection (FPP)
Published on: April 20, 2015
Topogenesis of membrane proteins: determinants and dynamics
1Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract:
For targeting and integration of proteins into the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum, two types of signals can be distinguished: those that translocate their C-terminal sequence (cleavable signals and signal-anchors) and those that translocate their N-terminus (reverse signal-anchors). In addition to the well established effect of flanking charges, also the length and hydrophobicity of the apolar core of the signal as well as protein folding and glycosylation contribute to orienting the signal in the translocon. In multi-spanning membrane proteins, topogenic determinants are distributed throughout the sequence and may even compete with each other. During topogenesis, segments of up to 60 residues may move back and forth through the translocon, emphasizing unexpected dynamic aspects of topogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Fluid Mosaic Model
Single-pass Transmembrane Proteins
Membrane Domains
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the anterior...
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels
α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins
Multi-pass transmembrane proteins such as G-protein-linked receptors (GPCRs) and...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...

