Assessing the stability of membrane proteins to detect ligand binding using differential static light scattering

Protein stabilization upon ligand binding has frequently been used to identify ligands for soluble proteins. Methods such as differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) and differential static light scattering (DSLS) have been employed in the 384-well format and have been useful in identifying ligands that promote crystallization and 3D structure determination of proteins. However, finding a generic method that is applicable to membrane proteins has been a challenge as the high hydrophobicity of membrane proteins and the presence of detergents essential for their solubilization interfere with fluorescence-based detections. Here the authors used MsbA (an adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter), CorA (a Mg(++) channel), and CpxA (a histidine kinase) as model proteins and show that DSLS is not sensitive to the presence of detergents or protein hydrophobicity and can be used to monitor thermodenaturation of membrane proteins, assess their stability, and detect ligand binding in a 384-well format.