Membrane Protein Protocols

Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of a protein is absolutely required for the complete understanding of its function. The spatial orientation of amino acids in the active site of an enzyme demonstrates how substrate specificity is defined, and assists the medicinal chemist in the design of s- cific, tight-binding inhibitors. The shape and contour of a protein surface hints at its interaction with other proteins and with its environment. Structural ana- sis of multiprotein complexes helps to define the role and interaction of each individual component, and can predict the consequences of protein mutation or conditions that promote dissociation and rearrangement of the complex. Determining the three-dimensional structure of a protein requires milligram quantities of pure material. Such quantities are required to refine crystallization conditions for X-ray analysis, or to overcome the sensitivity limitations of NMR spectroscopy. Historically, structural determination of proteins was limited to those expressed naturally in large amounts, or derived from a tissue or cell source inexpensive enough to warrant the use of large quantities of cells. H- ever, with the advent of the techniques of modern gene expression, many p- teins that are constitutively expressed in minute amounts can become accessible to large-scale purification and structural analysis.

This detailed volume explores protocols for the production of membrane proteins in a panel of heterologous organisms for structural studies. Beginning with techniques using E. coli as a host for the overproduction and purification of membrane proteins, the book continues with chapters covering mammalian membrane protein production in yeast, insect cells, mammalian cells, as well as using virus like particles and acellular systems. Additionally, new detergents and alternatives to detergents allowing membrane protein purification for structural analyses are described. The book closes with a chapter exploring the use of microscale thermophoresis (MST) to evaluate the binding activity of heterologously expressed proteins directly in crude membrane extracts. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and up-to-date, Heterologous Expression of Membrane Proteins: Methods and Protocols, Third Edition serves as an ideal guide for scientists aiming to produce and purify functional recombinant membrane proteins for structural studies.

In this present volume, different approaches are detailed to produce membrane proteins, purify them, study their function, determine their structure, and model them in membrane. Since every membrane protein behaves mostly in a unique way /fashion, knowledge of guidelines and tricks may help to increase chances to express, purify and characterize a peculiar membrane protein. Production of correctly folded protein remains a challenge. Moreover, getting a functional and stable protein requires to optimize membrane mimicking environments that can be detergent or artificial membranes. In some cases, the finding of the correct ligand which will stabilize the desired conformation is needed. In other cases, stabilization can be obtained using specific antibodies. This volume also presents different techniques to analyze the functional status of membrane proteins. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters in Membrane Protein Structure and Function Characterization: Methods and Protocols provide different techniques to analyze the functional and structural status of membrane proteins. Chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Membrane Protein Structure and Function Characterization: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

This second edition of Membrane Protein Purification and Crystallization, A Practical Guide is written for bench scientists working in the fields of biochemistry, biology, and proteomic research. This guide presents isolation and crystallization techniques in a concise form, emphasizing the critical aspects unique to membrane proteins. It explains the principles of the methods and provides protocols of general use, permitting researchers and students new to this area to adapt these techniques to their particular needs. This edition is not only an update but is comprised mainly of new contributions. It is the first monograph compiling the essential approaches for membrane protein crystallization, and emphasizes recent progress in production and purification of recombinant membrane proteins. Provides general guidelines and strategies for isolation and crystallization of membrane proteins Gives detailed protocols that have wide application, and low specialized equipment needs Emphasizes recent progress in production and purification of recombinant membrane proteins, especially of histidine-tagged and other affinity-epitope-tagged proteins Summarizes recent developments of Blue-Native PAGE, a high resolution separation technique, which is independent of the use of recombinant techniques, and is especially suited for proteomic analyses of membrane protein complexes Gives detailed protocols for membrane protein crystallization, and describes the production and use of antibody fragments for high resolution crystallization Presents a comprehensive guide to 2D-crystallization of membrane proteins

This volume provides recent advances in the field of biophysics of membrane proteins. Chapters are divided into several parts: detailing biochemistry and functional analysis, experimental and theoretical structural determinations, membrane protein dynamics, and conformation studies. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Biophysics of Membrane Proteins: Methods and Protocols aims to provide comprehensive protocols with notes to help further the understanding of key membrane protein structure and function for students, academics, and industrial researchers.

A Practical Guide to Membrane Protein Purification is written especially for researchers who have some familarity with separation of water-soluble proteins, but who may not be aware of the pitfalls they face with membrane proteins. This guide presents techniques in a concise form, emphasizing the aspects unique to membrane proteins. The book explains the principles of the methods, permitting researchers and students new to this area to adapt these techniques to their particular needs. The second volume in the series, this book is an essential manual for investigations of structure and function of native membrane proteins, as well as for purification of these proteins for immunization and protein sequencing. Separation, Detection, and Characterization of Biological Macromolecules is a new series of laboratory guides. Each volume focuses on a topic of central interest to scientists and students in biomedical and biological research. Introductory chapters are followed by clear, step-by-step protocols that present principles and practice. These concise manuals are designed for optimal understanding of methods as well as for practical benchtop use. Provides general guidelines and strategies for isolation of membrane proteins Describes detailed practical procedures that have been the widest applications, and lowest specialized equipment needs Gives special emphasis to new native and denaturing electrophoresis techniques Explains modifications of techniques used for water-soluble proteins

Hans Neurath has written that this is the second golden era of enzymology {Protein Science [1994], vol. 3, pp. 1734—1739); he could with justice have been more general and referred to the second golden age of protein chemistry. The last two decades have seen enormous advances in our understanding of the structures and functions of pro teins arising on the one hand from improvements and developments in analytical techniques {see the companion volume, Basic Protein and Peptide Protocols, in this series) and on the other hand from the tech nologies of molecular genetics. Far from turning the focus away from protein science, the ability to isolate, analyze, and express genes has increased interest in proteins as gene products. Hence, many laborato ries are now getting involved in protein isolation for the first time, either as an essential adjunct to their work in molecular genetics or because of a curiosity to know more about the products of the genes that they have been studying. Protein Purification Protocols is aimed mainly at these newcom ers to protein purification, but it is hoped that it will also be of value to established practitioners who may find here techniques that they have not tried, but which might well be most applicable in their work. With the exception mainly of the first and last chapters, the format of the contributions to the present book conform to the established format of the Methods in Molecular Biology series.

This book collects up-to-date advanced protocols and advice from leading experts in the area of membrane protein biology that can be applied to structural and functional studies of any membrane protein system. The contents explore methods for cloning and expression of membrane proteins and membrane protein complexes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, approaches for protein purification, nanobody applications, as well as biophysical characterization and much more. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and thorough, Expression, Purification, and Structure Biology of Membrane Proteins serves to guide and encourage young researchers and newcomers to the field to tackle bold new studies on membrane proteins. Chapter 11 is available open access under a CC-BY 4.0 license via link.springer.com.