Advances in nanodisc platforms for membrane protein purification

John M Pettersen; Yaxin Yang; Anne S Robinson

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.02.006

Advances in nanodisc platforms for membrane protein purification

Trends Biotechnol. 2023 Aug;41(8):1041-1054. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.02.006. Epub 2023 Mar 17.

Authors

John M Pettersen¹, Yaxin Yang¹, Anne S Robinson²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: asrobins@andrew.cmu.edu.

PMID: 36935323
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.02.006

Abstract

Membrane scaffold protein nanodiscs (MSPNDs) are an invaluable tool for improving purified membrane protein (MP) stability and activity compared to traditional micellar methods, thus enabling an increase in high-resolution MP structures, particularly in concert with cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) approaches. In this review we highlight recent advances and breakthroughs in MSPND methodology and applications. We also introduce and discuss saposin-lipoprotein nanoparticles (salipros) and copolymer nanodiscs which have recently emerged as authentic MSPND alternatives. We compare the advantages and disadvantages of MSPNDs, salipros, and copolymer nanodisc technologies to highlight potential opportunities for using each platform for MP purification and characterization.

Keywords: copolymers; membrane proteins; membrane scaffold proteins; nanodiscs; salipros.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Membrane Proteins / metabolism
Microscopy, Electron
Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Nanostructures* / chemistry

Substances

Membrane Proteins