Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Directed Protein Packaging within Outer Membrane Vesicles from Escherichia coli: Design, Production and Purification
Published on: November 16, 2016
Protein-enriched outer membrane vesicles as a native platform for outer membrane protein studies
Johannes Thoma1, Selen Manioglu1, David Kalbermatter2
1Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, Basel, 4058, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Most studies characterizing the folding, structure, and function of membrane proteins rely on solubilized or reconstituted samples. Whereas solubilized membrane proteins lack the functionally important lipid membrane, reconstitution embeds them into artificial lipid bilayers, which lack characteristic features of cellular membranes including lipid diversity, composition and asymmetry. Here, we utilize outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) released from Escherichia coli to study outer membrane proteins (Omps) in the native membrane environment. Enriched in the native membrane of the OMV we characterize the assembly, folding, and structure of OmpG, FhuA, Tsx, and BamA. Comparing Omps in OMVs to those reconstituted into artificial lipid membranes, we observe different unfolding pathways for some Omps. This observation highlights the importance of the native membrane environment to maintain the native structure and function relationship of Omps. Our fast and easy approach paves the way for functional and structural studies of Omps in the native membrane.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Transport to the Outer Chloroplast Membrane
Two models describe the mechanism of precursor recognition and entry across the outer membrane through the TOC complex. Model 1 suggests the newly synthesized precursor binds to the TOC receptor 159 and forms a complex.
Porin Insertion in the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane
Three models describe the assembly of porins by the SAM complex and their insertion into the outer membrane. Model 1 suggests that porins are assembled outside the SAM channel as the...
Introduction to Membrane Proteins
Membrane Proteins
Protein Diffusion in the Membrane
Tail-anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane

