Two-dimensional lattices of porin diffract to 6 Å resolution

AbstractPorin (the product of gene ompF) is an integral membrane protein (Mr 36 500) of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli (strain BE). The protein has been purified to homogeneity and reconstituted in dimyristoyl-lecithin. Oriented specimen on a flat surface yielded X-ray diffraction pattern, originating from the two-dimensional protein lattice, to a resolution reaching 6 Å. Although these powder rings are broad compared to corresponding diffraction patterns from purple membranes of Halobacterium halobium, porin is the first reconstituted integral membrane protein which shows diffraction to this resolution