[18] Use of receptors expressed in Escherichia coli to study autoimmunity against G protein-coupled membrane proteins

摘要: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the use of receptors expressed in Escherichia coli to study autoimmunity against G protein-coupled membrane proteins. The putative structure receptors, based on topology bacteriorhodopsin, contains seven-transmembrane α helices linked by intracellular and extracellular loops, with an N-terminal sequence a cytoplasmic C-terminal sequence. There are three main factors consider when looking at these as targets for autoantibodies. First, seven transmembrane domains loops unlikely be autoantibody recognition sites because their inaccessibility. Second, most rhodopsin superfamily are, only very limited extent, open autoimmune attack, except extended domain. If antibodies affect function which would explain pathophysiological effects, recognized epitopes likely located loops.