Two copies of the gramicidin protein are shown here () arranged as they are believed to be when they form a channel through a lipid bilayer membrane[1]. The shape of the protein is shown transparent (ghostly), and a backbone trace connecting the alpha carbon atoms of each amino acid chain is opaque (solid).
Show of the gramicidin protein chains.
(Most hydrogen atoms are omitted.)
Show only
.
Show . Notice how the hydrophobic lipid "tails" exclude water.
Water passes
.
Show .
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