Product name
Cell-free in vitro expression of membrane proteins into tethered lipid bilayersSummary
A synthetic lipid bilayer attached to a solid carrier and a cell-free system for the investigation of interactions between MPs & ligandsOrganization name
Max-Planck-Innovation GmbHProfile
Membrane proteins (MPs) play a fundamental role in cellular life e.g. in cell signaling and cover a most interesting pool of proteins such as receptors, ion channels, carriers and adhesion molecules. Being the communication interface between the cell and its surrounding plus their easy accessibility on the cell surface makes them key targets for pharmaceutical drug development.
However, up to now research on MPs and their further engineering and application have been hampered by loss of native structure and activity in standard expression systems due to their hydrophobic nature. Unlike soluble proteins, MPs are prone to aggregation in aqueous systems and rely on a lipid-bilayer membrane for correct folding. Major shortcomings of current in vitro setups for studying membrane proteins are the need for prior isolation of MPs with aggressive detergents and the rather undirected and random incorporation of solubilized MPs into lipid bilayers.
To overcome these obstacles our researchers have developed a strategy for the controlled insertion of membrane proteins into tethered membranes mimicking the phospholipid architecture of a cell membrane whilst preserving full native bioactivity and intrinsic properties of the protein.
Our system combines a synthetic lipid bilayer attached to a solid carrier with the clean properties of a cell-free system for the investigation of interactions between MPs & ligands.
The biological membrane is mimicked by a solid-supported membrane consisting of a synthetic bilayer attached via anchor peptides. This composite system forms a planar, mechanically robust architecture that enables biophysical analysis by a broad spectrum of standard tools. Use of cell-free membrane further offers a reduced, simplified environment and circumvents the complexity of cellular context as well as the need for protein purification.
The technology has been validated broadly investigating G-protein coupled receptors, opsins and the acetylcholine receptor. We could show that integration and incorporation of MPs into membranes occurs not only in native, functional form but also oriented.
Taken together this new assay is an simple, efficient and reproducible characterize the specific function and/or native structure of MPs in a clearly defined setting that to date could not be addressed. The strategy is widely applicable to study receptor/ligand interactions, ion flux and is envisaged for an application in screening for pharmaceutical compounds. Furthermore, applications in the field of sensor technology and biodetectors for medical and environmental purposes are highly suggested.
PCT patent application was filed. Additional information is provided in the attached pdf.
Contact
Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH
Dr. Matthias Stein-Gerlach
stein-gerlach(at)max-planck-innovation.de
About Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH
Max Planck Innovation advises and supports scientists of the Max Planck Society in evaluating inventions and filing patent applications. They market patents and technologies to industry and coach founders of new companies based on research results from Max Planck Institutes. Every year, they evaluate about 130 inventions, of which 80 to 100 lead to the filing of a patent. In the last five years alone, they advised 28 spin-offs, closed more than 450 license deals and generated proceeds of more than EUR100m for inventors, institutes and the Max Planck Society. As a result, Max Planck Innovation is among the world's most successful technology transfer organizations. Max Planck Innovation was founded in 1970 as Garching Instrumente GmbH and operated under the name of Garching Innovation from 1993 to 2006.
Description File
0204-3043_GMSG_DE.pdf
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