Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Strategic Screening and Characterization of the Visual GPCR-mini-G Protein Signaling Complex for Successful Crystallization
Published on: March 16, 2020
Designer short peptide surfactants stabilize G protein-coupled receptor bovine rhodopsin
Xiaojun Zhao1, Yusuke Nagai, Philip J Reeves
1Center for Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, USA.
Abstract:
Membrane proteins play vital roles in every aspect of cellular activities. To study diverse membrane proteins, it is crucial to select the right surfactants to stabilize them for analysis. Despite much effort, little progress has been made in elucidating their structure and function, largely because of a lack of suitable surfactants. Here we report the stabilization of a G protein-coupled receptor bovine rhodopsin in solution, using a new class of designer short and simple peptide surfactants. These surfactants consist of seven amino acids with a hydrophilic head, aspartic acid or lysine, and a hydrophobic tail with six consecutive alanines. These peptide surfactants not only enhance the stability of bovine rhodopsin in the presence of lipids and the common surfactants n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside and octyl-D-glucoside, but they also significantly stabilize rhodopsin under thermal denaturation conditions, even after lipids are removed. These peptide surfactants are simple, versatile, effective, and affordable. They represent a designer molecular nanomaterial for use in studies of diverse elusive membrane proteins.
Related Concept Videos
GPCR Desensitization
G-protein Coupled Receptors
G Protein-coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins
Channel Rhodopsins
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...

