ABSTRACT
A protein s function is a product o f its inherent structural and biochemical characteristics. Equally critical to protein function are elements o f its cellular environment including localization, organization and dynamics, which regulate the capacity o f a protein to en counter substrates in cells. The m ajority o f Sec61 translocon research has exploited biochemical approaches to successfully characterize the structure and function o f several integral membrane translocon components. However, ensemble biochemical measurements and structural approaches neither provide spatial nor temporal information regarding the environmental context o f translocon components. In addition, nonphysiological conditions required for biochemical analyses, such as detergent extraction o f membrane proteins, may disrupt weak interactions between transmembrane domains, whereas conversely, cross-linking agents may introduce nonphysiological protein-protein interactions. Here we will discuss how biophysical microscopy techniques have provided new insights into translocon organization in cells and highlight developments in im aging applications, which we anticipate will open new lines o f inquiry.
