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Review
. 2020 Nov 16:8:598450.
doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.598450. eCollection 2020.

Polymer-Encased Nanodiscs and Polymer Nanodiscs: New Platforms for Membrane Protein Research and Applications

Angela Chen  1 , Elleana J Majdinasab  1 , Mariana C Fiori  2 , Hongjun Liang  2 , Guillermo A Altenberg  2
Affiliations
Review

Polymer-Encased Nanodiscs and Polymer Nanodiscs: New Platforms for Membrane Protein Research and Applications

Angela Chen et al. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. .

Abstract

Membrane proteins (MPs) are essential to many organisms' major functions. They are notorious for being difficult to isolate and study, and mimicking native conditions for studies in vitro has proved to be a challenge. Lipid nanodiscs are among the most promising platforms for MP reconstitution, but they contain a relatively labile lipid bilayer and their use requires previous protein solubilization in detergent. These limitations have led to the testing of copolymers in new types of nanodisc platforms. Polymer-encased nanodiscs and polymer nanodiscs support functional MPs and address some of the limitations present in other MP reconstitution platforms. In this review, we provide a summary of recent developments in the use of polymers in nanodiscs.

Keywords: Lipodisq; copolymer; lipid; membrane-mimetic; method; native nanodisc; styrene maleic acid; synthetic membrane.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Different types of nanodiscs. (A) Schematic representation of the steps involved in the production of different types of membrane protein (MP)-loaded nanodiscs. Note that styrene maleic acid (SMA) and SMA-like copolymers can yield SMA lipid particles (SMALPs or novel SMALPs) in a single solubilization/reconstitution step without the need for detergents if cell membranes are the starting material. The soluble MPs reconstituted in SMALPs can then be purified in the absence of detergent. In contrast, production of lipid (LNDs) and polymer (PNDs) nanodiscs requires MPs solubilized in detergent. (B) Schematic representation of a MP in a detergent micelle and in different types of nanodiscs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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