Lipidic cubic phase injector facilitates membrane protein serial femtosecond crystallography.

ABSTRACT: Lipidic cubic phase (LCP) crystallization has proven successful for high-resolution structure determination of challenging membrane proteins. Here we present a technique for extruding gel-like LCP with embedded membrane protein microcrystals, providing a continuously renewed source of material for serial femtosecond crystallography. Data collected from sub-10-μm-sized crystals produced with less than 0.5 mg of purified protein yield structural insights regarding cyclopamine binding to the Smoothened receptor.

SUBMITTER: Weierstall U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4061911 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature