Figure 5.

BR unfolding curves from the model tBLM. As a 7TM membrane protein, the unfolding of BR will lead to four characteristic peaks in a force-distance curve. (a) The first peak shows the stretching of the terminus and unfolding of the first two transmembrane helices (TMs). As the cantilever can adsorb to the terminus at different positions, the first peak is not resolved clearly. This is followed by the pairwise unfolding of the next four TMs during the next two peaks (b and c). The last peak (d) shows the pulling of the seventh TM until BR dissociates from the tip or from the membrane. In our case, this means the dissociation between the His10-tag and the trisNTA. To see this figure in color, go online.