Life Sciences Nanotheater

Protein GroES

The molecular surface structure of the protein heptamer GroES was recently elucidated under physiologic fluid. In the AFM image, two GroES molecules are positioned side-by-side. The entire molecule measures 84Å across (green) and a 45Å heptameric "crown" structure (purple) protrudes 8Å above the remaining GroES surface surrounding a central depression. GroES, a member of the chaperonin 10 family of proteins, was obtained by overexpression in E.coli and then purified. Image by Jianxun Mou. Courtesy of Shao lab, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA. 18nm scan size. See Mou et al., (1996) FEBS Lett. 381: 161-164.