Characterization of Membrane Protein Interactions by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry

• Experimental tools to quantify the association of membrane proteins are required.
• The suitability of ITC to measure integrin αIIbβ3 TM complex affinity is tested.
• NMR measurements validate the successful application of ITC.
• ITC demonstrates TM helix–helix preorientation in phospholipid bicelles.
• ITC reveals protein-induced lipid reorganization.

Understanding the structure, folding, and interaction of membrane proteins requires experimental tools to quantify the association of transmembrane (TM) helices. Here, we introduce isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to measure integrin αIIbβ3 TM complex affinity, to study the consequences of helix–helix preorientation in lipid bilayers, and to examine protein-induced lipid reorganization. Phospholipid bicelles served as membrane mimics. The association of αIIbβ3 proceeded with a free energy change of − 4.61 ± 0.04 kcal/mol at bicelle conditions where the sampling of random helix–helix orientations leads to complex formation. At bicelle conditions that approach a true bilayer structure in effect, an entropy saving of > 1 kcal/mol was obtained from helix–helix preorientation. The magnitudes of enthalpy and entropy changes increased distinctly with bicelle dimensions, indicating long-range changes in bicelle lipid properties upon αIIbβ3 TM association. NMR spectroscopy confirmed ITC affinity measurements and revealed αIIbβ3 association and dissociation rates of 4500 ± 100 s− 1 and 2.1 ± 0.1 s− 1, respectively. Thus, ITC is able to provide comprehensive insight into the interaction of membrane proteins.

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