Synthesis of a membrane protein with two transmembrane regions

J Pept Sci. 2002 Apr;8(4):172-80. doi: 10.1002/psc.381.

Abstract

A membrane protein with two transmembrane domains was synthesized by means of the thioester method. The F1F0 ATP synthase subunit c (Sub.c), which consists of 79 amino acid residues (MW 8257), was chosen as a target. For synthetic purposes, two building blocks, Boc-[Lys34(Boc)]-Sub.c(1-38)-SCH2CH2CO-Ala and Sub.c(39-79), were synthesized via solid-phase methods using Boc chemistry. RP-HPLC purification conditions for the transmembrane peptide were examined. As a result, a combination of a mixture of formic acid, 1-propanol and water with a phenyl column was found to be useful for separating the transmembrane peptide. The purified building blocks were condensed in DMSO in the presence of silver chloride, 3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazine (HOOBt), N,N-diisopropylethylamine to give the product, Sub.c, after removal of Boc groups (yield 16%). The yield of the condensation reaction could be improved to 23% by raising the reaction temperature to 50 degrees C, and to 26% when a mixture of chloroform and methanol was used as a solvent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Membrane Proteins / chemical synthesis*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Subunits
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases / chemical synthesis*
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases / chemistry*
  • Solubility
  • Solvents
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • Solvents
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases