Journal of Membrane Biology 2011-06-01

Improved technique for reconstituting incredibly high and soluble amounts of tetrameric K⁺ channel in natural membranes.

Mobeen Raja, Elisabeth Vales

Index: J. Membr. Biol. 241(3) , 141-4, (2011)

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Abstract

The reconstitution of large amounts of integral proteins into lipid vesicles is largely prompted by the complexity of most biological membranes and protein stability. We optimized a particular system which maximized the incorporation efficiency of large soluble amounts of KcsA potassium channel in Escherichia coli membranes. The effects of two detergents, octylglucoside and 3-[(cholamidopropyl)-dimethyl-ammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), on KcsA reconstitution were compared. Reconstitution efficiency was found to be incredibly high for CHAPS-treated proteoliposomes followed by dialysis at room temperature. This approach may allow more accurate investigation of integral membrane proteins in their natural membrane environment via biophysical or biochemical techniques.