Small K+ channels are model proteins for detecting basic interactions between membrane proteins and their surrounding bilayer with relevance for structure and function

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Gerhard Thiel
• Subject Area: Plant Biochemistry and Biophysics ; Biophysics
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290743586

• Final Report Year: 2019

Final Report Abstract

We believe that the systematic investigation of channel protein/lipid interactions in combination with high resolution structural data has provided clear cut and novel information on the understanding of the functional interplay between membrane proteins and bilayers. I also want to mention the successful collaboration with the group of Prof. Cantu in Milan. We were able to perform complementary experiments with the same protein under the same experimental conditions. This allows a direct correlation of functional with structural data.

Publications

• (2018) Reconstitution and functional characterization of ion channels from nanodiscs in lipid bilayers. J. Gen Physiol. 150: 637-646
  Winterstein, L.M. Kukovetz, K. Rauh, O., Turman, D.L. Braun, C., Moroni, A., Schroeder, I., Thiel, G.
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.201711904)
• (2018) Vectional K+ Channel insertion in a single phospholipid bilayer: Neutron Reflectometry and Electrophysiology in the joint exploration of a model membrane functional platform. BBA General Subject. 1862: 1742-1750
  Rondelli, V., Del Favero, E., Brocca, P. Fragneto, G., Trapp, M., Mauri, L., Ciampa, M.G. Romani, G., Braun, C.J. Schroeder. I., Winterstein.L.M., Thiel, G., Moroni, A., Cantù, L.
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.05.007)
• (2019) Influence of different membrane types on the viral potassium channels KcvNTS, KcvS and Kmpv12T. Dissertation TU Darmstadt
  Winterstein, L.