Membrane Proteins: Structures, Interactions and Models

The main theme of the symposium reported in this book was the presentation and discussion of the direct and indirect evidence available on the three-dimensional structure of membrane proteins and on the interactions relevant to their functioning. Among the topics discussed are the lessons of the known 3D structures, the prospects in 3D structure determination (by X-rays, electron microscopy, neutron scattering, NMR, optical methods, site-directed mutagenesis, theoretical calculations and modeling, etc) and the interactions with lipids. The originality of the Symposium, reflected in the content of the book, was to bring together well-known specialists in the biochemistry of the proteins considered (bacteriorhodopsin, receptors, acetylcholine esterase, glycophorine, porines, etc) and experts in the physicochemical, chemical and theoretical methods utilized.