Protein-protein interactions for metallochaperone mediated metal transfer.

    Metallochaperones protect and deliver metal ions to their target metalloproteins via specific protein-protein interactions, and play essential roles in intracellular metal ion regulation and metabolism. We are studying the dynamics of the protein-protein interactions and the associated metal transfer processes involving metallochaperones using single molecule fluorescence techniques. We have used nanovesicle trapping to enable single-molecule FRET studies of weak interactions between the copper chaperone and the Wilson Disease protein (see Figure), and quantified their interaction dynamics for understanding their functions.

Figure. Nanovesicle trapping combined with single-molecule FRET for studying transient and weak protein interactions.