Examining the relationship between PIP Membrane Content and Grp1 Surface Coverage

Many cell signalling events in cells are regulated by the association of Peripheral membrane proteins (PMPs) with phosphatidylinositol phosphates (PIPs) in membranes. This association frequently occurs via lipid-binding modules e.g. Pleckstrin Homology (PH) domains present in PMPs. To gain a precision structural understanding of signalling protein binding to PIP lipids under conditions which match those found in vivo and with our in silico simulations we have engaged in neutron reflectometry studies on the specific PIP-Grp1, a PH domain protein's, interaction on the eukaryotic membrane surface. We are currently approaching the publication of this data but are missing some key data sets, in particular the data sets relating to Grp1-PIP3 interactions against a series of membranes with increasing PIP content. Here we propose to gain that data to complete this study.