Co-translational insertion into pre-formed nanodiscs makes it possible to study cell-free synthesized membrane proteins in defined lipid environments without contact with detergents. This protocol describes the preparation of essential system components and the critical parameters for improving expression efficiency and sample...

Herein is described the procedure implemented in the Caffrey Membrane Structural and Functional Biology Group to set up manually crystallization trials of membrane proteins in lipidic...

Source: Gilmore, S. F., et al. Cell-Free Scaled Production and Adjuvant Addition to a Recombinant Major Outer Membrane Protein from Chlamydia muridarum for Vaccine Development. J. Vis. Exp. (2022)This video demonstrates the cell-free synthesis of nanodisc-stabilized membrane protein antigens using a dual-compartment system. The device maintains optimal conditions for efficient protein synthesis, proper folding, and stable integration into...

This paper describes the protocols for sample preparation, data reduction, and data analysis in neutron spin echo (NSE) studies of lipid membranes. Judicious deuterium labeling of lipids enables access to different membrane dynamics on mesoscopic length and time scales, over which vital biological processes...

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic...

The protocols describe the essential steps for obtaining diffraction quality crystals of a membrane protein starting from reconstitution of the protein in a lipidic cubic phase (LCP), finding initial conditions with LCP-FRAP pre-crystallization assays, setting up LCP crystallization trials and harvesting...