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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Assessing Two-dimensional Crystallization Trials of Small Membrane Proteins for Structural Biology Studies by Electron Crystallography
Published on: October 30, 2010
The trials and tribulations of membrane protein folding in vitro
1Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK. paula.booth@bristol.ac.uk
Abstract:
Membrane proteins are hard to handle and consequently the purification of functional protein in milligram quantities is a major problem. One reason for this is that once integral membrane proteins are outside their native membrane, they are prone to aggregation, are unstable and are frequently only partially functional. Knowledge of membrane protein folding mechanisms in vitro can help to understand the causes of these problems and work toward strategies to disaggregate and fold proteins correctly. Kinetic and stability studies are emerging on membrane protein folding, mainly on bacterial proteins. Mutagenesis methods have also been used to probe specific structural features or bonds in proteins. In addition, manipulation of lipid properties can be used to improve the efficiency of folding as well as the stability and function of the protein.
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