AMSBIO’s new synthetic nanodisc platform advances membrane protein research
A new range of synthetic nanodiscs has been developed that facilitates the preparation of multi-pass transmembrane proteins in their active form, potentially advancing both fundamental membrane protein research and therapeutic development. The polymer-based platform addresses several long-standing challenges in membrane protein preparation and characterisation.
The significance of membrane proteins in drug development cannot be overstated, representing over 60% of FDA-approved drug targets and 90% of antibody-based therapeutic targets. However, conventional preparation methods have historically presented significant technical challenges in maintaining protein functionality and stability.
Enhanced solubility without detergent interference
Traditional detergent-based preparation methods, whilst widely employed, have inherent limitations due to residual detergent contamination that can compromise downstream applications and protein structural integrity. Alternative approaches using peptides derived from N-terminus or extracellular loops often fail to preserve the native conformational characteristics of transmembrane proteins.
Membrane environment preservation
AMSBIO’s novel synthetic nanodisc platform represents a significant methodological advancement over existing techniques such as membrane fractions, whole cells, or virus-like particles (VLPs), which typically generate high non-specific antibody backgrounds during immunisation procedures.
Technical advantages and applications
The polymer-based platform demonstrates several key technical benefits:
- Production of full-length membrane proteins with enhanced purity
- Excellent aqueous solubility characteristics
- Maintenance of native membrane environment
- Absence of detergent contamination
- Elimination of membrane scaffold proteins
These properties create a more streamlined system with reduced interference in downstream assays, particularly beneficial for cell-based applications. The platform maintains proteins in their biologically active state within a native membrane environment, facilitating more accurate functional characterisation studies.
The development represents a methodological advance in membrane protein research, offering potential applications in both basic research and therapeutic development pipelines.
- For more information, visit:
https://www.amsbio.com/proteins-peptides/synthetic-nanodiscs
