Development of novel platforms for membrane protein analysis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25650053
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biophysics
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: YASUHARA Kazuma 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, 物質創成科学研究科, 助教 (90545716)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 膜タンパク質 / 脂質二分子膜 / バイセル / 自己組織化 / 有機-無機ハイブリッド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Membrane proteins embedded in cell membranes play various important roles in the cellular functions. In this study, we have developed stable lipid bilayer nanodiscs, which can be applied to a functional and structural analysis of membrane proteins. The membrane-active amphiphiles designed in this study spontaneously formed nanodiscs through the interaction with a hydrophobic edge of a lipid bilayer. It was demonstrated that obtained nanodisc has a potential as a novel matrix for the membrane protein reconstitution.

Free Research Field

界面物理化学