title: The EGF receptor transmembrane domain: peptide-peptide interactions in fluid bilayer membranes.
abstract: A peptide containing the transmembrane domain of the human EGF receptor was studied in fluid lipid bilayers for insight into receptor tyrosine kinase lateral associations in cell membranes. The peptide comprised the 23-amino acid hydrophobic segment thought to span the membrane (Ile(622) to Met(644) of the EGF receptor), plus the first 10 amino acids of the receptor's cytoplasmic domain (Arg(645) to Thr(654)). Probes for solid-state NMR spectroscopy were incorporated by deuteration of the methyl side chains of alanine at positions 623 and 637. (2)H-NMR spectra were recorded from 25 to 65 degrees C in membranes composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine, with and without 33% cholesterol, and relaxation times were measured. Peptide concentration ranged from 0. 5 to 10 mol %. The peptide behaved as predominant monomers undergoing rapid symmetric rotational diffusion; however, there was evidence of reversible side-to-side interaction among the hydrophobic transmembrane domains, particularly at physiological temperatures and in the presence of natural concentrations of cholesterol. The results of these experiments in fluid membranes are consistent with the existence of lipid-protein interactions that would predispose to receptor microdomain formation in membranes of higher animal cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X7, Canada.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D066246:ErbB Receptors