GPCR-styrene maleic acid lipid particles (GPCR-SMALPs): their nature and potential

Mark Wheatley, Jack Charlton, Mohammed Jamshad, Sarah J. Routledge, Sian Bailey, Penelope J. La-Borde, Maria T. Azam, Richard T. Logan, Roslyn M. Bill, Tim R. Dafforn, David R. Poyner

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form the largest class of membrane proteins and are an important target for therapeutic drugs. These receptors are highly dynamic proteins sampling a range of conformational states in order to fulfil their complex signalling roles. In order to fully understand GPCR signalling mechanisms it is necessary to extract the receptor protein out of the plasma membrane. Historically this has universally required detergents which inadvertently strip away the annulus of lipid in close association with the receptor and disrupt lateral pressure exerted by the bilayer. Detergent-solubilized GPCRs are very unstable which presents a serious hurdle to characterization by biophysical methods. A range of strategies have been developed to ameliorate the detrimental effect of removing the receptor from the membrane including amphipols and reconstitution into nanodics stabilized by membrane scaffolding proteins (MSPs) but they all require exposure to detergent. Poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) (SMA) incorporates into membranes and spontaneously forms nanoscale poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) lipid particles (SMALPs), effectively acting like a 'molecular pastry cutter' to 'solubilize' GPCRs in the complete absence of detergent at any stage and with preservation of the native annular lipid throughout the process. GPCR-SMALPs have similar pharmacological properties to membrane-bound receptor, exhibit enhanced stability compared with detergent-solubilized receptors and being non-proteinaceous in nature, are fully compatible with downstream biophysical analysis of the encapsulated GPCR.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)619-623
Number of pages5
JournalBiochemical Society Transactions
Volume44
Issue number2
Early online date11 Apr 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Apr 2016

Bibliographical note

-This is not the final peer-reviewed Version of Record; Wheatley, M., Charlton, J., Jamshad, M., Routledge, S. J., Bailey, S., La-Borde, P. J., ... Poyner, D. R. (2016). GPCR-styrene maleic acid lipid particles (GPCR-SMALPs): their nature and potential. Biochemical Society Transactions, 44(2), 619-623. http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/BST20150284.

Funding: BBSRC (BB/I020349/1 and BB/I019960/1)

Keywords

  • adenosine receptor
  • detergent-free
  • G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
  • membrane protein solubilization
  • poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) lipid particle (SMALP)
  • protein thermostability

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'GPCR-styrene maleic acid lipid particles (GPCR-SMALPs): their nature and potential'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this