 This schematic diagram shows a possible insertion model for antiamoebin in a lipid bilayer. A. Monomeric antiamoebin binds to the target membrane. B. On application of a transmembrane voltage, antiamoebin inserts into the membrane. C. Antiamoebin monomers assemble to form the active channel (shown in cross section). The polypeptide structures shown are C-alpha backbone worms representing the lowest energy NMR model (cyan / Galbraith et al. 2003) and the crystal structure (red / Snook et al. 1998). Figures from Galbraith, T., Harris, R., Driscoll, P.S. and Wallace, B.A. (2003) Biophysical J. (in press) |