Integral membrane proteins

Integral Membrane Proteins are a type of protein that is permanently attached to the biological membrane. They play a crucial role in various biological functions such as cell adhesion, cell signaling, and transport of substances across the membrane.

Structure

Integral membrane proteins have a hydrophobic region that interacts with the fatty acid chains of the lipid bilayer and one or more hydrophilic regions that interact with the aqueous environment on either side of the membrane. They can be classified into two types: transmembrane proteins and lipid-anchored proteins.

Transmembrane Proteins

Transmembrane proteins span the entire biological membrane. They have at least one hydrophobic region that forms an alpha helix spanning the membrane and hydrophilic regions at both the exterior and cytoplasmic sides of the membrane.

Lipid-Anchored Proteins

Lipid-anchored proteins are attached to the lipid bilayer through a covalently attached lipid molecule. The lipid anchor can be a fatty acid, a phospholipid, or a prenyl group.

Function

Integral membrane proteins perform various functions that are vital for the survival of a cell. They act as receptors that receive signals from the cell's environment, as channels that allow specific ions or molecules to pass through the membrane, and as enzymes that catalyze chemical reactions.

See Also

• Peripheral membrane proteins
• Lipid bilayer
• Cell membrane
• Protein structure

References

Integral membrane proteins Resources
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