The three-dimensional structure of porin from Rhodobacter capsulatus at 3 A resolution.

The crystal structure of porin from Rhodobacter capsulatus strain 37b4 has been solved at 3.0 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) resolution by multiple isomorphous replacement and solvent-flattening. The three pores of the trimer are well defined in the electron density map. Each pore consists of a 16-stranded beta-barrel which traverses the membrane as a tube. Near its center the tube is narrowed by chain segments protruding from the inner wall of the barrel that form an eye-let with an irregular cross-section of about 6 A by 10 A. The eye-let has an axial length of about 10 A; it defines the exclusion limit for diffusing particles.