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The structure and function of membrane proteins depend on their interactions with the lipid molecules that constitute lipid membranes. Actinoporins are a family of α-pore-forming proteins that bind specifically to sphingomyelin-containing lipid membranes, where they oligomerize and form transmembrane pores. The numerous contacts they form with the lipid membrane make them an exemplary object for studying the different roles that lipids play in the structure and function of membrane proteins. Through a comprehensive cryo-electron microscopic analysis of a pore formed by an actinoporin Fav from the coralOrbicella faveolata, we show that the octameric pore interacts with 112 lipids in the upper leaflet of the membrane. The structures of Fav pores formed on different lipid membranes reveal the different roles of lipids and demonstrate that the actinoporin surface is perfectly suited for binding multiple receptor sphingomyelin molecules. When cholesterol is present in the membrane, it forms nanodomains associated with the pore, leading to a tighter arrangement of lipids, which in turn increases the stability of the pores. Atomistic simulations support the structural data, show that the protein-bound lipids are not mobile, and reveal additional effects of the pore on the lipid membrane. Overall, these data reveal a complex network of protein-lipid and lipid-lipid interactions, and an underrated role of lipids in the structure and function of transmembrane protein complexes.
The structure and function of membrane proteins depend on their interactions with the lipid molecules that constitute lipid membranes. Actinoporins are a family of α-pore-forming proteins that bind specifically to sphingomyelin-containing lipid membranes, where they oligomerize and form transmembrane pores. The numerous contacts they form with the lipid membrane make them an exemplary object for studying the different roles that lipids play in the structure and function of membrane proteins. Through a comprehensive cryo-electron microscopic analysis of a pore formed by an actinoporin Fav from the coralOrbicella faveolata, we show that the octameric pore interacts with 112 lipids in the upper leaflet of the membrane. The structures of Fav pores formed on different lipid membranes reveal the different roles of lipids and demonstrate that the actinoporin surface is perfectly suited for binding multiple receptor sphingomyelin molecules. When cholesterol is present in the membrane, it forms nanodomains associated with the pore, leading to a tighter arrangement of lipids, which in turn increases the stability of the pores. Atomistic simulations support the structural data, show that the protein-bound lipids are not mobile, and reveal additional effects of the pore on the lipid membrane. Overall, these data reveal a complex network of protein-lipid and lipid-lipid interactions, and an underrated role of lipids in the structure and function of transmembrane protein complexes.
The South China Sea is rich in sea anemone resources, and the protein and peptide components from sea anemone toxins comprise an important treasure trove for researchers to search for leading compounds. This study conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of the tentacles and column of Macrodactyla doreensis and explored the distribution and diversity of proteins and peptides in depth using bioinformatics, initially constructing a putative protein and peptide database. In this database, typical peptide families are identified through amino acid sequence analysis, and their 3D structures and potential biological activities are revealed through AlphaFold2 modeling and molecular docking. A total of 4239 transcripts were identified, of which the putative protein accounted for 81.53%. The highest content comprised immunoglobulin and a variety of proteases, mainly distributed in the column and related to biological functions. Importantly, the putative peptide accounted for 18.47%, containing ShK domain and Kunitz-type peptides, mainly distributed in the tentacles and related to offensive predatory behavior. Interestingly, 40 putative peptides belonging to eight typical peptide families were identified, and their structures and targets were predicted. This study reveals the diversity and complexity of Macrodactyla doreensis toxins and predicts their structure and targets based on amino acid sequences, providing a feasible approach for research regarding the discovery of peptides with potentially high activity.
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