All posts by dlello

Co-evolutionary analysis of protein structure interactions

Membrane transporter proteins include a family of heterodimeric P-type ATPases that move phospholipids across the cell membrane. The structure and dynamics of the heterodimer, and in particular how two polypeptides interact with each other is unknown. This project combines statistical analysis of coevolution in the protein sequences with molecular biological manipulation of particular amino acids in each of the two proteins to experimentally identify interacting surfaces and protein dynamics that are the foundation for the catalytic mechanism of the transporter.