脂立方相技术体系在膜蛋白结构与功能研究中的应用进展

Lipid Cubic Phase Technology for Membrane Protein Structural and Functional Research

脂立方相是包含连续脂双层和水通道的材料。其作为跨膜蛋白质结晶的有效介质,是一些重要和高难度膜蛋白结构解析的关键。因此,脂立方相技术体系越来越受到结构生物学家的重视。该文就脂立方相的特性及其结晶相关技术的最新进展作一简要阐述,并介绍该技术体系在膜蛋白生化分析与体外复性研究中的应用现状。

Composed of a continuous bilayer and two continuous water channels, lipid cubic phase has been proven as a promising method for membrane protein crystallization. Since its introduction into the field 19 years ago, it has contributed to the structure determination for many challenging membrane proteins, some of which has puzzled structure biologists for decades. As such it has become increasingly popular. This review aims to give a basic description to the method and to briefly summarize the advances for this technology. The application of the lipid cubic phase in membrane protein functional assays and refolding is also described.