Probing protein-protein interaction in biomembranes using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

The position, intensity and width of bands in infrared spectra that arise from vibrational modes within a protein can be used to probe protein secondary structure, amino acid side chain structure as well as protein dynamics and stability. FTIR spectroscopic studies on protein-protein interaction have been severely limited due to extensive overlap of peaks, from the interacting proteins. This problem is being addressed by combining data processing and acquisition techniques (difference spectroscopy and two-dimensional spectroscopy) with judicious modifications in the protein primary structure through molecular biological and chemical methods. These include the ability to modify amino acids (site-directed mutagenesis; chemical synthesis) and produce isotopically labelled proteins and peptides. Whilst great progress is being made towards overcoming the congestion of overlapping peaks, the slow progress in the assignment of bands continues to be a major hindrance in the use of infrared spectroscopy for obtaining highly accurate and precise information on protein structure. This review discusses some of these problems and presents examples of infrared studies on protein-protein interaction in biomembrane systems. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: FTIR in membrane proteins and peptide studies.