膜蛋白是一重要的蛋白質，是使細胞能夠正常運作的重要組成之一。它們負責細胞內外像是離子傳導、分子傳輸、酵素反應及訊息接收等重要工作。膜蛋白的正學運作對於生物功能非常重要，異常的膜蛋白與許多嚴重的疾病有密切的關係。最近結構生物學的發展對於膜蛋白的結構有更深入的瞭解，具原子解析度的膜蛋白之三維空間結構是瞭解它們的功能及作用機制不可或缺的重要資訊。

Membrane proteins are an important class of proteins. They are essential components for cellular functions and processes; they play important roles as ion channels, transporters, enzymes and receptors. Their normal functions are fundamental to our health, and many impaired membrane proteins have been linked to serious diseases. Recent advances in the field of structural biology have enabled us to have better understanding of membrane protein structures. The three-dimensional atomic resolution structural information of membrane proteins is critical to understand their function and mechanism.