Formation of quasicrystalline nanostructures from the ATP-synthetase protein complex included in the proteoliposome membrane

Spontaneous formation of several types of quasicrystalline nanostructures f rom the high-purity ATP-synthetase protein complex F1F0 was detected by ato mic force microscopy. The postulated first stage of their formation from pr oteoliposomes is the aggregation of these proteoliposomes into large comple xes, which are spontaneously rearranged into a structure belonging to one o f three possible types, depending on the experimental conditions. Three-dim ensional structures were obtained directly from the protein dissolved in an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant in the absence of a lipid.