Accessible Mannitol-Based Amphiphiles (MNAs) for Membrane Protein Solubilisation and Stabilisation

Integral membrane proteins are amphipathic molecules crucial for all cellular life. The structural study of these macromolecules starts with protein extraction from the native membranes, followed by purification and crystallisation. Detergents are essential tools for these processes, but detergent-solubilised membrane proteins often denature and aggregate, resulting in loss of both structure and function. In this study, a novel class of agents, designated mannitol-based amphiphiles (MNAs), were prepared and characterised for their ability to solubilise and stabilise membrane proteins. Some of MNAs conferred enhanced stability to four membrane proteins including a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the beta(2) adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR), compared to both n-dodecyl-D-maltoside (DDM) and the other MNAs. These agents were also better than DDM for electron microscopy analysis of the beta(2)AR. The ease of preparation together with the enhanced membrane protein stabilisation efficacy demonstrates the value of these agents for future membrane protein research.This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIP) (grant number 2008-0061891 and 2013R1A2A2A03067623 to P.S.C., H.H., and H.E.B.). N.J.S. is in receipt of a BBSRC Doctoral Training Programme studentship awarded to B.B