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A Detergent-Free Strategy For The Reconstitution Of Active Enzyme Complexes From Native Biological Membranes Into Nanoscale Discs, Ashley R. Long, Catherine C. O’Brien, Ketan Malhotra, Christine T. Schwall, Arlene D. Albert, Nathan N. Alder
A Detergent-Free Strategy For The Reconstitution Of Active Enzyme Complexes From Native Biological Membranes Into Nanoscale Discs, Ashley R. Long, Catherine C. O’Brien, Ketan Malhotra, Christine T. Schwall, Arlene D. Albert, Nathan N. Alder
Open Access Author Fund Awardees' Articles
Background
The reconstitution of membrane proteins and complexes into nanoscale lipid bilayer structures has contributed significantly to biochemical and biophysical analyses. Current methods for performing such reconstitutions entail an initial detergent-mediated step to solubilize and isolate membrane proteins. Exposure to detergents, however, can destabilize many membrane proteins and result in a loss of function. Amphipathic copolymers have recently been used to stabilize membrane proteins and complexes following suitable detergent extraction. However, the ability of these copolymers to extract proteins directly from native lipid bilayers for subsequent reconstitution and characterization has not been explored.
Results
The styrene-maleic acid (SMA) copolymer effectively …