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Janet asked in Science & MathematicsBiology · 1 decade ago

Need help with Cell Biology?

consider a transmembrane protein complex that forms a hydrophilic pore across the plasma membrane of a eukaryotic cell. The pore is made of five similar protein subunits, each of which contributes a membrane-spanning alpha helix to form the pore. Each alpha helix has hydrophilic amino acid side chains on one side of the helix and hydrophobic amino acid side chains on the opposite side. Propose a possibel arrangement of these five alpha helices in the membrane.

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  • 1 decade ago
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    The hydrophobic sides of the alpha helices face the plasma membrane (both are hydrophobic, so it's a favorable interaction) and the hydrophillic sides face the pore (so it's water + hydrophillic, which is also favorable).

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