Single molecule or ensemble fluorescence microscopy investigations of ABC transporter oligomerisation and dynamics

Abstract

The study of any protein requires investigation not just of that protein in isolation, but the identification and significance of any interacting proteins, as they may be essential for localisation, activity and regulation. For the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters it is no different. Much as we probe into their molecular mechanisms and intramolecular interactions we also need to ensure we unravel their intermolecular interactions. In this chapter we examine how fluorescence microscopy techniques enable us to examine the oligomerisation and dynamics of ABC transporters and offer some perspectives about how such techniques will be used in the future to better understand ABC transporter biology.