Membrane proteins play crucial roles in cellular processes and are often important pharmacological drug
targets. The hydrophobic properties of these proteins make full structural and functional characterization
challenging because of the need to use detergents or other solubilizing agents when extracting them
from their native lipid membranes. To aid membrane protein research, new methodologies are required
to allow these proteins to be expressed and purified cheaply, easily, in high yield and to provide water
soluble proteins for subsequent study. This mini review focuses on the relatively new area of water soluble
membrane proteins and in particular two innovative approaches: the redesign of membrane proteins to yield
water soluble variants and how adding solubilizing fusion proteins can help to overcome these challenges.
This review also looks at naturally occurring membrane proteins, which are able to exist as stable, functional,
water soluble assemblies with no alteration to their native sequence.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)