Anthracene-Bridged Detergents for Membrane Protein Studies

Detergents are indispensable for membrane protein (MP) research, yet innovative designs are needed to meet the diverse requirements of MPs. Herein, anthracene-bridged detergents (ABDs) are presented, featuring a curved anthracene-based scaffold with a hydrophobic core and hydrophilic exterior. The modular synthesis of ABDs facilitates a systematic exploration of their structure-property relationships. Evaluation across representative G protein-coupled receptors demonstrates superior or comparable stabilization to conventional detergents. Notably, PP-ABD maintains complete homogeneity of A_2AAR after heat shock and exhibits strong potential for electron microscopy applications. This study establishes ABDs as versatile and effective tools for MP research, offering valuable insights into the rational design of next-generation detergents.