Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
07:10
In Vesiculo Synthesis of Peptide Membrane Precursors for Autonomous Vesicle Growth
Published on: June 28, 2019
Helical membrane peptides to modulate cell function.
Andrew J Beevers1, Ann M Dixon
1Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
Chemical Society Reviews
|May 27, 2010
Summary
Helical peptides can significantly impact cell membranes and internal cell functions. This review explores their design, mechanisms, and medical applications, including cell repair and death.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Helical peptides are increasingly researched for their ability to modulate cell function.
- Their effects range from cell repair to cell death, contingent on sequence and interactions with cellular components.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms by which helical peptides influence cell membranes and internal cell processes.
- To discuss current peptide design strategies, including natural protein inspiration and non-natural scaffolds.
- To summarize successful applications and future medical potential of helical peptides.
Main Methods:
- Critical review of existing literature on helical peptides.
- Analysis of mechanisms: transporters, inhibitors, agonists, and antibiotics.
- Examination of peptide design approaches and stability considerations.
Main Results:
- Helical peptides exert significant effects on cell membranes and internal cell mechanisms.
- Diverse mechanisms of action identified, including transport, inhibition, agonism, and antibiotic activity.
- Advancements in peptide design, utilizing both natural and non-natural scaffolds, enhance stability and efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Helical peptides offer diverse mechanisms to influence cell function, with broad therapeutic potential.
- Innovative design strategies, particularly using stable non-natural scaffolds, are expanding their applicability.
- Further research into helical peptides promises significant advancements in medicine, from targeted therapies to novel antimicrobial agents.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Mechanisms of Membrane-bending
The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
01:09Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels
In multi-pass transmembrane proteins, the polypeptide chain crosses the membrane more than once. The transmembrane polypeptide chain either forms an α-helix or β-strand structure. α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins are ubiquitous, whereas β-strand containing ones are mainly found in gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins
Multi-pass transmembrane proteins such as G-protein-linked receptors (GPCRs) and...
α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins
Multi-pass transmembrane proteins such as G-protein-linked receptors (GPCRs) and...
01:16Introduction to Membrane Proteins
The cell membrane, or plasma membrane, is an ever-changing landscape. It is described as a fluid mosaic where various macromolecules are embedded in the phospholipid bilayer. Among the macromolecules are proteins. The protein content varies across cell types. For example, mitochondrial inner membranes contain ~76% protein content, while myelin contains ~18% protein content. Individual cells contain many types of membrane proteins—red blood cells contain over 50—and different cell types have...
01:19Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Mitochondrial precursors are translocated to the internal subcompartments via independent mechanisms involving distinct protein machineries called translocases.
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
01:30Membrane Proteins
Plasma membranes have integral transmembrane proteins involved in facilitated transport. These proteins are collectively referred to as transport proteins, and they function as either channels for the material or as carriers themselves. Channel proteins have hydrophilic domains exposed to the intracellular and extracellular fluids and a hydrophilic channel through their core that provides a hydrated opening for solutes to pass through the membrane layers. Passage through the channel allows...
01:30Membrane Proteins
Plasma membranes have integral transmembrane proteins involved in facilitated transport. These proteins are collectively referred to as transport proteins, and they function as either channels for the material or as carriers themselves. Channel proteins have hydrophilic domains exposed to the intracellular and extracellular fluids and a hydrophilic channel through their core that provides a hydrated opening for solutes to pass through the membrane layers. Passage through the channel allows...