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An integral, or intrinsic, membrane protein (IMP) [1] is a type of membrane protein that is permanently attached to the biological membrane. All transmembrane proteins can be classified as IMPs, but not all IMPs are transmembrane proteins. [2] IMPs comprise a significant fraction of the proteins encoded in an organism's genome. [3]
For example, the "unfolded" bacteriorhodopsin in SDS micelles has four transmembrane α-helices folded, while the rest of the protein is situated at the micelle-water interface and can adopt different types of non-native amphiphilic structures. Free energy differences between such detergent-denatured and native states are similar to stabilities ...
Peripheral membrane proteins are temporarily attached either to the lipid bilayer or to integral proteins by a combination of hydrophobic, electrostatic, and other non-covalent interactions. Peripheral proteins dissociate following treatment with a polar reagent, such as a solution with an elevated pH or high salt concentrations. [citation needed]
Membrane proteins consist of three main types: integral proteins, peripheral proteins, and lipid-anchored proteins. [4] As shown in the adjacent table, integral proteins are amphipathic transmembrane proteins. Examples of integral proteins include ion channels, proton pumps, and g-protein coupled receptors.
The regulatory protein subunits of many ion channels and transmembrane receptors, for example, may be defined as peripheral membrane proteins. In contrast to integral membrane proteins, peripheral membrane proteins tend to collect in the water-soluble component, or fraction, of all the proteins extracted during a protein purification procedure.
A membrane transport protein is a membrane protein involved in the movement of ions, small molecules, and macromolecules, such as another protein, across a biological membrane. Transport proteins are integral transmembrane proteins ; that is they exist permanently within and span the membrane across which they transport substances.
The MIP family is large and diverse, possessing thousands of members that form transmembrane channels. These channel proteins function in transporting water, small carbohydrates (e.g., glycerol), urea, NH 3, CO 2, H 2 O 2 and ions by energy-independent mechanisms.
Intramembrane proteases are integral membrane proteins that are polytopic transmembrane proteins with multiple transmembrane helices. [5] [17] Their active sites are located within the transmembrane helices and form an aqueous environment within the hydrophobic lipid bilayer.