# STUDIES OF BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 1990 · $199,096

## Abstract

The long-term objectives are to understand the molecular dynamics
and functions of integral membrane proteins.  Membrane proteins
carry out a wide variety of important biological functions.
Molecular understanding of their functions is of importance in
health and biology.  Currently, first steps are being taken in the
characterization of a number of such membrane proteins such as
bacteriorhodopsin, visual pigments, beta-adrenergic, muscarinic,
acetylcholine and other receptors, ionic channels and ATPases and
many other transport proteins.  Our specific objectives are to
develop methods for determining their secondary and tertiary
structures.  Experimental approaches proposed are:  (1), three-
dimensional crystallization of membrane proteins.  This is urgently
needed and it would be a major goal.  Crystallization of
bacteriorhodopsin and rhodopsin will be undertaken in collaboration
with Prof. G. Petsko (M.I.T.) and Prof. L. Delucas (Univ. of
Alabama).  (2), Methods (chemical, enzymatic and immunological)
will be developed for characterization of the extra-membranous
peptide loops and for the lengths of the membrane-embedded helical
segments.  Studies of the loops will involve selective chemical
degradation with the Meerwein reagent (triethyl oxonium
tetrafluoroborate), interactions with appropriate anti-peptide
antibodies and extensive manipulation by recombinant DNA methods
to carry out specific labeling and other investigations.  (3),
Further topographical studies will involve studies of the
interactions between the membrane-embedded segments and with
phospholipids (protein-lipid interactions).  Specific approaches,
exemplified with respect to bacteriorhodopsin are (a) mutagenesis
to introduce 'reporter' amino acids, e.g. cysteine in different
domains and studies of crystal lattices formed from Hg++
derivatives (with D. M. Engelman) or after spin-labeling (with
Wayne Hubbell, U.C.L.A.), (b), reconstitution of the proteins from
fragments after introducing photoactivatable groups in the
fragments and subsequent photolytic crosslinking, (c), crosslinking
using phospholipids carrying photoactivatable groups and (d)
membrane-soluble photolabeling reagents.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124956
- **Project number:** 5R01AI011479-16
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** E2NYLCDML6V1
- **Principal Investigator:** H. GOBIND KHORANA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $199,096
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1976-05-01 → 1993-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124956

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124956, STUDIES OF BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES (5R01AI011479-16). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124956. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*