Homomultimeric and Heteromultimeric Proteins
The subunits of a multimeric protein may be identical as in a homomultimeric protein or different as in a heteromultimeric protein.
The voltage-gated potassium channels in the plasma membrane of a neuron are heteromultimeric proteins composed of four of forty known alpha subunits. Subunits must be of the same subfamily to form the multimeric protein channel. The tertiary structure of the channel allows ions to flow through the hydrophobic plasma membrane. Connexons are an example of a homomultimeric protein composed of six identical connexins. A cluster of connexons forms the gap-junction in two neurons that transmit signals through an electrical synapse.
Read more about this topic: Multiprotein Complex
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