Thermodynamics of nanodisc formation mediated by styrene/maleic acid (2:1) copolymer.

ABSTRACT: Styrene/maleic acid copolymers (SMA) have recently attracted great interest for in vitro studies of membrane proteins, as they self-insert into and fragment biological membranes to form polymer-bounded nanodiscs that provide a native-like lipid-bilayer environment. SMA copolymers are available in different styrene/maleic acid ratios and chain lengths and, thus, possess different charge densities, hydrophobicities, and solubilisation properties. Here, we studied the equilibrium solubilisation properties of the most commonly used copolymer, SMA(2:1), by monitoring the formation of nanodiscs from phospholipid vesicles using ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and differential scanning calorimetry. Comparison of SMA(2:1) phase diagrams with those o

SUBMITTER: Grethen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5599547 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature