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Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Bicelles

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Membrane Protein Structure and Dynamics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 914))

Abstract

The structural biology of membrane proteins remains a challenging field, partly due to the difficulty in obtaining high-quality crystals. We developed the bicelle method as a tool to aid with the production of membrane protein crystals. Bicelles are bilayer discs that are formed by a mixture of a detergent and a lipid. They combine the ease of use of detergents with the benefits of a lipidic medium. Bicelles maintain membrane proteins in a bilayer milieu, which is more similar to their native environment than detergent micelles. At the same time, bicelles are liquid at certain temperatures and they can be integrated into standard crystallization techniques without the need for specialized equipment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Professors Jochen Zimmer and Michael Wiener for critical review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Sayeh Agah

  2. Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Fontaine Research Park, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Salem Faham

Authors
  1. Sayeh Agah
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  2. Salem Faham
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salem Faham .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Division of Immunology, Beckman Research Institute of the City o, E. Duarte Road 1500, Duarte, 91010, USA

    Nagarajan Vaidehi

  2. , Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medic, Fifth Avenue 3501, Pittsburgh, 15261, USA

    Judith Klein-Seetharaman

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Agah, S., Faham, S. (2012). Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Bicelles. In: Vaidehi, N., Klein-Seetharaman, J. (eds) Membrane Protein Structure and Dynamics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 914. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-023-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-023-6_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-022-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-023-6

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