Lipidomic and in-gel analysis of maleic acid co-polymer nanodiscs reveals differences in composition of solubilized membranes

Commun Biol. 2021 Feb 16;4(1):218. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01711-3.

Abstract

Membrane proteins are key in a large number of physiological and pathological processes. Their study often involves a prior detergent solubilization step, which strips away the membrane and can jeopardize membrane protein integrity. A recent alternative to detergents encompasses maleic acid based copolymers (xMAs), which disrupt the lipid bilayer and form lipid protein nanodiscs (xMALPs) soluble in aqueous buffer. Although xMALPs are often referred to as native nanodiscs, little is known about the resemblance of their lipid and protein content to the native bilayer. Here we have analyzed prokaryotic and eukaryotic xMALPs using lipidomics and in-gel analysis. Our results show that the xMALPs content varies with the chemical properties of the used xMA.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lipidomics*
  • Maleates / chemistry*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / chemistry
  • Solubility

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Maleates
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Polymers
  • Polystyrenes
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • styrene-maleic acid polymer
  • maleic acid