Delcour Anne H
Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston, 369 Science Research Building 2, Houston, TX 77204-5001, USA.
Front Biosci. 2003 May 1;8:d1055-71. doi: 10.2741/1132.
General diffusion porins are among the few membrane proteins that have been thoroughly investigated by many techniques, including X-ray crystallography, AFM microscopy, computer modeling, electrophysiology and biochemistry. This had led to a good understanding of the process of solute transport per se. However, other aspects of porin function remain enigmatic, such as the molecular basis and physiological relevance of many regulatory processes. After summarizing the most salient structural features, the review provides a description of the techniques used for the functional study of porins. The process of solute transport is presented on the basis of structure-function relationship and modeling studies. Three aspects of regulation are discussed: voltage-dependence, pH sensitivity and modulation by polycations and polyanions. The review ends with a perspective on future porin research, to be targeted at a molecular understanding of the regulatory processes, the deciphering of the physiological context in which these processes take place, and rational drug design.
一般扩散孔蛋白是少数几种已通过多种技术进行深入研究的膜蛋白之一，这些技术包括X射线晶体学、原子力显微镜、计算机建模、电生理学和生物化学。这使得人们对溶质运输过程本身有了很好的理解。然而，孔蛋白功能的其他方面仍然是个谜，比如许多调节过程的分子基础和生理相关性。在总结了最显著的结构特征之后，本文综述了用于孔蛋白功能研究的技术。基于结构-功能关系和建模研究，阐述了溶质运输过程。讨论了调节的三个方面：电压依赖性、pH敏感性以及多阳离子和多阴离子的调节作用。本文综述最后展望了孔蛋白未来的研究方向，旨在从分子层面理解调节过程，解读这些过程发生的生理背景，并进行合理的药物设计。
