Membrane protein clusters at nanoscale resolution: more than pretty pictures.
Fluorescence microscopy is powerful for analyzing the composition and dynamics of cellular elements, but studying precise molecule patterns is precluded due to diffraction limited resolution. This barrier has been lifted now through several superresolution microscopy techniques. They revealed that proteins assemble in defined groups (clusters). A new challenge thus appears for the biologist: to find out whether clusters are molecular machines, stabilizers of defined protein conformations, or simply protein reservoirs.
Lang
Thorsten
T
LIMES-Institute, Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Bonn.
Rizzoli
Silvio O
SO
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049329:Nanostructures; D011487:Protein Conformation
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes