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X-ray Crystallography

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Applications of fluorescent protein tagging in structural studies of membrane proteins.

The FEBS journal·2023

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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases

Published on: November 21, 2010

A guide to membrane protein X-ray crystallography.

Ali A Kermani¹

¹Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

The FEBS Journal

|December 19, 2020

Summary

Determining membrane protein structures via X-ray crystallography is vital for understanding biological functions and drug discovery. This review details methods for overcoming challenges in protein extraction, crystallization, and structure determination.

Keywords:

X-ray crystallography crystallization chaperones detergents in meso crystallization membrane proteins

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Last Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases

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Published on: November 21, 2010

Use of a Robot for High-throughput Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mesophases

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Published on: September 1, 2012

Harvesting and Cryo-cooling Crystals of Membrane Proteins Grown in Lipidic Mesophases for Structure Determination by Macromolecular Crystallography

Harvesting and Cryo-cooling Crystals of Membrane Proteins Grown in Lipidic Mesophases for Structure Determination by Macromolecular Crystallography

Published on: September 2, 2012

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Structural Biology
Membrane Protein Research

Background:

Membrane proteins are crucial for physiological processes, including transport and signaling.
Understanding their 3D structures aids in elucidating functions and enables structure-based drug discovery.
X-ray crystallography is a primary technique for high-resolution membrane protein structure determination.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the comprehensive process of membrane protein crystallization.
To discuss challenges and strategies for successful membrane protein structure determination.
To introduce current methods for precrystallization screening and enhancing crystallization success.

Main Methods:

Protein extraction and solubilization techniques.
Strategies for stabilizing membrane proteins.
Crystallization screening and optimization methods.
X-ray diffraction data collection and structure refinement.

Main Results:

Detailed overview of the membrane protein crystallization workflow.
Identification of key challenges in each step from extraction to crystal formation.
Presentation of current screening methods and optimization strategies.
Discussion of techniques to improve crystallization yields for difficult targets.

Conclusions:

Successful membrane protein structure determination relies on overcoming significant experimental hurdles.
Advanced screening and tailored strategies are essential for crystallizing challenging membrane proteins.
Elucidating membrane protein structures through crystallography is critical for both fundamental science and therapeutic development.