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Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...

Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order...

Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins

Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins

Protein domains are small structurally independent units that are part of a single amino acid chain. Although these domains are often structurally independent, they may rely on synergistic effects to perform their functions as part of a larger protein. Protein domains may be conserved within the same organism, as well as across different organisms.
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to...

Conservation of Protein Domains

Conservation of Protein Domains

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 21, 2026

The MultiBac Protein Complex Production Platform at the EMBL

The MultiBac Protein Complex Production Platform at the EMBL

Published on: July 11, 2013

Complex Reconstitution from Individual Protein Modules.

Jérôme Basquin¹, Michael Taschner², Esben Lorentzen²

¹Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, Martinsried, D82152, Germany. basquin@biochem.mpg.de.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

|May 12, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding protein complex assembly is key to cellular function. This review covers methods for in vitro reconstitution of protein complexes from subunits to study their structure and activity.

Keywords:

Protein complex reconstitution Recombinant protein Size exclusion chromatography

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Identification of Functional Protein Regions Through Chimeric Protein Construction

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Last Updated: Mar 21, 2026

The MultiBac Protein Complex Production Platform at the EMBL

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Published on: July 11, 2013

Combining Chemical Cross-linking and Mass Spectrometry of Intact Protein Complexes to Study the Architecture of Multi-subunit Protein Assemblies

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Published on: November 28, 2017

Identification of Functional Protein Regions Through Chimeric Protein Construction

Identification of Functional Protein Regions Through Chimeric Protein Construction

Published on: January 8, 2019

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Biochemistry
Structural Biology

Background:

Cellular functions depend on protein complexes, which act as molecular nano-machines.
The specific assembly of protein subunits dictates the complex's structure and biological function.
Understanding this assembly process is a central goal in molecular biology.

Purpose of the Study:

To review methods for in vitro reconstitution of protein complexes from individual subunits.
To highlight the advantages and potential pitfalls of using these reconstitution methods.
To provide a molecular basis for in vivo observations by mapping functional sites.

Main Methods:

In vitro reconstitution of protein complexes using purified individual subunits and sub-modules.
Direct protein-protein interaction assays to study hierarchical assembly.
Activity assays on individual subunits, sub-complexes, and fully assembled complexes.

Main Results:

Systematic dissection of hierarchical assembly pathways is enabled by in vitro reconstitution.
Precise mapping of functional sites is achievable by comparing activities of different assembly states.
In vitro methods provide a molecular basis for understanding in vivo protein complex behavior.

Conclusions:

In vitro reconstitution is a powerful approach for dissecting protein complex assembly, structure, and function.
Careful consideration of advantages and potential pitfalls is crucial for successful application.
This methodology aids in understanding the molecular basis of biological processes.