Magic™ Membrane Protein Characterization by Solution-state NMR Studies

Creative Biolabs now provides the professional custom service in solution-state NMR studies of membrane proteins.

Solution-state NMR is widely applied in the biophysical and structural characterization of proteins and protein-ligand/cofactor/substrate complexes. However, compared to water-soluble proteins, membrane proteins have been far less characterized using this technique. This can be mainly ascribed to the difficulty in finding a medium that well mimics the native cell membranes of membrane proteins and helps generate sensitive， interpretable NMR signals at the same time. So far, micelles, lipid nanodiscs, and amphipols can be used as the tool to solve these problems.

Micelles are constructed via the aggregation of detergents or micelle-forming lipids aggregate above their critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) in aqueous solutions. Long-chain lipids can also participate in the formation of bi-component micelles together with detergents. Membrane proteins solubilized in micelles are wrapped by the hydrophobic tails of detergents and lipids.
Nanodiscs are small lipid bilayer particles with a diameter of 8-16 nm wrapped by belt-like membrane scaffold proteins (MSPs) around their edge. Membrane proteins incorporated in nanodiscs are embedded in the lipid bilayer with their transmembrane domains surrounded by the hydrophobic tails of lipids.
Amphipols are produced by chemically linking octylamine and/or isopropylamine to a portion of carboxylic groups in polyacrylic acids via the formation of amide bonds. They can solubilize membrane proteins by wrapping them on their hydrophobic surface in aqueous solutions.

Scientists in Creative Biolabs have vast experience and comprehensive knowledge with solution-state NMR and the above-mentioned membrane protein solubilization and stabilization techniques. We can combine these two and provide our customers with high-quality service in biophysical and structural studies of diverse membrane proteins.

Our service including but not limited to

Experimental design
Data acquisition
Data processing
Spectral analysis/interpretation
- Stability
- Dynamics
- Protein-ligand/cofactor/substrate interactions
Structure determination

Since the stability, conformation, oligomerization state, function, activity and NMR signal sensitivity of a membrane protein can be largely affected by the type of solubilizing media, we will perform comprehensive pilot screening before we formally collect the NMR data. At Creative Biolabs, our customers can find more than 100 detergents on our detergent screening platform, around 50 lipids on our lipid screening platform, multiple MSPs as well as amphipols with different lengths and compositions of octylamino and isopropylamino groups that are available for exhaustive condition screening.

Creative Biolabs is happy to explore the application of micelles, nanodiscs, and amphipols in the solution-state NMR studies of membrane proteins to facilitate our customers' research progress. It is our promise to always deliver the most satisfactory outcome at the most cost-effective price. Please do not hesitate to inquire us for detailed information.

Reference

Milic, D.; Veprintsev, D.B. "Large-scale production and protein engineering of G protein-coupled receptors for structural studies. Front Pharmacol. 2015, 6: 66.

All listed services and products are For Research Use Only. Do Not use in any diagnostic or therapeutic applications.

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