Name: co-translational insertion of membrane proteins into preformed nanodiscs
Uploaded: 2020-11-19T14:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Co-Translational Insertion of Membrane Proteins into Preformed Nanodiscs at JoVE.com

We would like to thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) grant BE1911/8-1, the LOEWE project GLUE, and the collaborative research center Transport and Communication across Membranes (SFB807) for financial support.

1. Preparation of S30 lysate
<ol>
	<li>Day 1: Streak out cells from glycerol stocks on an LB agar plate and incubate at 37 &#176;C overnight.</li>
	<li>Day 2: Inoculate 200 mL of LB medium with the cells from the agar plate and incubate at 37 &#176;C for 12-14 h.</li>
	<li>Day 3: Inoculate 10 L of sterile YPTG medium (10 g/L yeast extract, 16 g/L tryptone, 5 g/L NaCl, 19.8 g/L glucose, 4.4 mM KH2PO4, 8 mM K2HPO4) tempered to ...

<ol>
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P., Cirico, T., Katzen, F., Peterson, T. C., Kudlicki, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell-free+synthesis+of+a+functional+G+protein-coupled+receptor+complexed+with+nanometer+scale+bilayer+discs.">Cell-free synthesis of a functional G protein-coupled receptor complexed with nanometer scale bilayer discs.</a> BMC Biotechnology. 11 (57), (2011).</li><li>Rues, R. B., Dong, F., D&#246;tsch, V., Bernhard, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Systematic+optimization+of+cell-free+synthesized+human+endothelin+B+receptor+folding.">Systematic optimization of cell-free synthesized human endothelin B receptor folding.</a> Methods. 147 (1), 73-83 (2018).</li><li>Keller, T., Gorboulev, V., Mueller, T. D., D&#246;tsch, V., Bernhard, F., Koepsell, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rat+organic+cation+transporter+1+contains+three+binding+sites+for+substrate+1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium+per+monomer.">Rat organic cation transporter 1 contains three binding sites for substrate 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium per monomer.</a> Molecular Pharmacology. 95 (2), 169-182 (2019).</li><li>Matthies, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell-free+expression+and+assembly+of+ATP+synthase.">Cell-free expression and assembly of ATP synthase.</a> Journal of Molecular Biology. 413 (3), 593-603 (2011).</li><li>Schwarz, D., Daley, D., Beckhaus, T., D&#246;tsch, V., Bernhard, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell-free+expression+profiling+of+E.+coli+inner+membrane+proteins.">Cell-free expression profiling of E. coli inner membrane proteins.</a> Proteomics. 10 (9), 1762-1779 (2010).</li><li>Haberstock, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+systematic+approach+to+increase+the+efficiency+of+membrane+protein+production+in+cell-free+expression+systems.">A systematic approach to increase the efficiency of membrane protein production in cell-free expression systems.</a> Protein Expression and Purification. 82, 308-316 (2012).</li><li>Falkinham, J. O., Clark, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+analysis+of+a+double+male+strain+of+Escherichia+coli+K12.">Genetic analysis of a double male strain of Escherichia coli K12.</a> Genetics. 78 (2), 633-644 (1974).</li><li>Foshag, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+E.+coli+S30+lysate+proteome:+A+prototype+for+cell-free+protein+production.">The E. coli S30 lysate proteome: A prototype for cell-free protein production.</a> New Biotechnology. 40, 245-260 (2018).</li><li>Davanloo, P., Rosenberg, A. H., Dunn, J. J., Studier, F. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cloning+and+expression+of+the+gene+for+bacteriophage+T7+RNA+polymerase.">Cloning and expression of the gene for bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 81 (7), 2035-2039 (1984).</li><li>Reckel, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Strategies+for+the+cell-free+expression+of+membrane+proteins.">Strategies for the cell-free expression of membrane proteins.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 607, 187-212 (2010).</li><li>Denisov, I. G., Baas, B. J., Grinkova, Y. V., Sligar, S. 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The setup and strategies to optimize the CF expression and co-translational insertion of functional MPs into nanodiscs are described. The required equipment comprises a bioreactor, a French press device or similar, an UV/VIS and fluorescence reader, CF reaction vessels suitable for a two-compartment configuration setup, and a temperature-controlled incubator. Further standard equipment are centrifuges for harvesting E. coli cells as well as tabletop centrifuges reaching at least 30,000 x g for preparati...

Membrane proteins (MPs) are challenging targets in protein production studies due to their insolubility in aqueous environments. Conventional MP production platforms comprise cell-based systems such as E. coli, yeast, or eukaryotic cells. The synthesized recombinant MPs are either extracted from cell membranes or refolded from inclusion bodies1. After detergent solubilization, MPs can be transferred into suitable membrane environments by established in vitro reconstitution protocols. Besides vesicles and liposomes, MP reconstitution into planar membranes in the form of nanodiscs2 or salipro3 particles have become routine techniques in recent times. However, all these strategies imply detergent contact with MPs that can result in destabilization, dissociation of oligomers, and even loss of protein structure and activity4. Screening for optimal detergent solubilization and reconstitution conditions can therefore be tedious and time consuming5.
The open nature of cell-free (CF) systems allows the expression reaction to be directly supplied with preformed membranes with a defined lipid composition. In this lipid-based expression mode (L-CF), the synthesized MPs have the opportunity to co-translationally insert into the provided bilayers6,7 (Figure 1). Nanodiscs consisting of a membrane scaffold protein (MSP) surrounding a planar lipid bilayer disc8 appear to be particularly suitable for this strategy9,10. Nanodiscs can routinely be assembled in vitro with a variety of different lipids, they are very stable, and stocks can be concentrated up to 1 mM. However, MSP expression in E. coli and its purification is necessary. As an alternative strategy, MSP can be co-expressed together with the target MP in CF reactions supplied with liposomes11,12,13. DNA templates for both MSP and MP are added into the reaction and MP/nanodiscs can form upon expression. While MSP production is avoided, the co-expression strategy requires careful fine-tuning of the final DNA template concentrations and higher variations in the efficiency of sample production can be expected.
The co-translational insertion of MPs into membranes of preformed nanodiscs is a non-physiological and still largely unknown mechanism independent from translocon machineries and signal sequences13,14,15,16. Major determinants of the insertion efficiency are the type of membrane protein as well as the lipid composition of the provided membrane, with a frequent preference for negatively charged lipids15,17. As the nanodisc membranes are relatively confined in size, a substantial amount of lipids is released upon MP insertion18. Variation of nanodisc size enables insertion and tuning of higher oligomeric MP complexes15,18. Among others, the correct assembly of homooligomeric complexes was shown for the ion channel KcsA, for the ion pump proteorhodopsin (PR) and for the multidrug transporter EmrE15,18. MPs are likely to enter the symmetric nanodisc membrane from both sides at relatively equal frequency. It should therefore be considered that different monomers or oligomers inserted into one nanodisc may have opposite orientations. However, a bias in orientation could be caused by cooperative insertion mechanisms as reported for the formation of PR hexamers and KcsA tetramers18. A further bias in MP orientation might result from orientation switches of inserted MPs probably at the rim of the nanodisc membranes.
The production of CF lysates from E. coli strains is a reliable routine technique and can be performed in almost any biochemical laboratory19,20. It should be considered that besides disulfide bridge formation, most other post-translational modifications are absent if a MP is synthesized using E. coli lysates. While this might generate more homogenous samples for structural studies, it may be necessary to exclude potential effects on the function of individual MP targets. However, the efficient production of high quality samples of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR)14,21,22, eukaryotic transporters23 or large heteromeric assemblies24 in E. coli CF lysates indicates their suitability for even complex targets. Preparative scale amounts (&#8776; 1 mg/mL) of a sample can be obtained with the two-compartment continuous exchange cell-free (CECF) configuration, composed of a reaction mixture (RM) and a feeding mixture (FM) compartment. The FM volume exceeds the RM volume 15 to 20-fold and provides a reservoir of low-molecular weight energy compounds and precursors19. The expression reaction is thus extended for several hours and the final yield of the MP target is increased. The RM and FM compartments are separated by a dialysis membrane with a 10-14 kDa cutoff. The two compartments require a special design of the CECF reaction container (Figure 1). Commercial dialysis cassettes as RM containers in combination with tailored plexiglass containers holding the FM are suitable examples. MP yields can further be manipulated by modifying the RM:FM ratios or by exchanging the FM after a certain period of incubation.
Yield and quality of a MP frequently require intense optimization of reaction parameters. An important advantage of CF expression is the possibility to modify and fine tune almost any compound according to the individual requirements of a MP. A straightforward strategy is to focus first on improving the yield of a MP by establishing a basic production protocol and then to optimize MP quality by fine tuning reaction and folding conditions. The absence of physiological processes in CF lysates and their reduced complexity result in high success rates for the efficient production of MPs25. Routine considerations for DNA template design and optimization of Mg2+ ion concentration are in most cases sufficient to obtain satisfactory yields26. Depending on expression mode, optimization of MP quality can become time consuming, as a larger variety of parameters need to be screened14,17,22.
To establish the described CF expression platform, protocols are necessary for the production of E. coli CF lysate (i), T7 RNA polymerase (ii), nanodiscs (iii), and the basic CECF reaction compounds (iv) (Figure 1). The E. coli K12 strain A1927 or BL21 derivatives are frequently used for the preparation of efficient S30 (centrifugation at 30,000 x g) lysates. Besides S30 lysates, corresponding lysates centrifuged at other g-forces (e.g. S12) may be used. The lysates differ in expression efficiency and in proteome complexity. The proteome of the S30 lysate prepared by the described protocol has been studied in detail28. The S30 proteome still contains some residual outer membrane proteins which could give background problems upon expression and analysis of ion channels. For such targets, the use of S80-S100 lysates is recommended. A valuable modification during lysate preparation is the induction of the SOS response by combined heat shock and ethanol supply at mid-log growth phase of the cells. The resulting HS30 lysates are enriched in chaperones and can be used in blends with S30 lysates for improved MP folding22. CF expression in E. coli lysates is operated as a coupled transcription/translation process with DNA templates containing promoters controlled by T7 RNA polymerase (T7RNAP). The enzyme can be efficiently produced in BL21(DE3) Star cells carrying the pAR1219 plasmid29.
Two copies of MSP1E3D1 assemble into one nanodisc with a diameter of 10-12 nm, but the protocol described below may also work for other MSP derivatives. However, nanodiscs larger than those formed with MSP1E3D1 tend to be less stable while smaller nanodiscs formed with MSP derivatives such as MSP1 may not accommodate larger MPs or MP complexes. MSP1E3D1 nanodiscs can be assembled in vitro with a large variety of different lipids or lipid mixtures. Preformed nanodiscs are usually stable for &#62; 1 year at -80 &#176;C, while stability may vary for different lipid components. For the screening of lipid effects on folding and stability of a MP, it is necessary to prepare a comprehensive set of nanodiscs assembled with a representative variety of lipids/lipid mixtures. The following lipids may give a good starting selection: 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1&#39;-rac-glycerol) (DMPG), 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2 dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (DOPG), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1&#39;-rac-glycerol) (POPG) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC).
A protocol for the preparation of a 3 mL CECF reaction is described. Further up or down scaling in a 1:1 ratio is possible. For the two-compartment CECF configuration, a RM containing all compounds and a FM containing only the low-molecular weight compounds have to be prepared. Commercial 3 mL dialysis devices with 10-14 kDa MWCO can be used as RM containers, which are then placed into custom made plexiglass containers holding the FM (Figure 1D)30. The ratio of RM:FM is 1:20, so 60 mL of FM have to be prepared for 3 mL RM. Quality, concentration, or type of several components can be critical for the final yield and/or quality of the synthesized MP (Table 1). DNA templates should be prepared according to published guidelines and codon optimization of the reading frame of the target can further significantly improve product yield26. For preparative scale CECF reaction, an established protocol for the production of PR is described. To establish expression protocols for new MPs, it is usually necessary to perform optimization screens of certain compounds (Table 1) to improve yield and quality. For Mg2+ ions, a well-focused concentration optimum does exist that frequently shows significant variation for different DNA templates. Other CF reaction compounds such as new batches of T7RNAP or S30 lysates may further shift the optimal Mg2+ concentration. As an example, a typical Mg2+ screen within the range of 14-24 mM concentration and in steps of 2 mM is described. Each concentration is screened in duplicates and in analytical scale CECF reactions. As CECF reaction container, custom-made Mini-CECF Plexiglas containers30 holding the RM are used in combination with standard 24-well microplates holding the FM (Figure 1B). Alternatively, commercial dialysis cartridges in combination with 96-deep well microplates or other commercial dialyzer devices in appropriate setups may be used (Figure 1C).

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1&#39;-rac-glycerol) (sodium salt) (DMPG)</td>
			<td>Avanti Polar Lipids (USA)</td>
			<td>840445P</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC)</td>
			<td>Avanti Polar Lipids (USA)</td>
			<td>850345C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (sodium salt) (DOPC)</td>
			<td>Avanti Polar Lipids (USA)</td>
			<td>850375C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1,2 dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (sodium salt) (DOPG)</td>
			<td>Avanti Polar Lipids (USA)</td>
			<td>840475C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)</td>
			<td>Avanti Polar Lipids (USA)</td>
			<td>850457C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1&#39;-rac-glycerol) (sodium salt) (POPG)</td>
			<td>Avanti Polar Lipids (USA)</td>
			<td>840034C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-Amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-propan-1,3-diol (Tris)</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>4855</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-Mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>4227</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-Propanol</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>9781</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>[3H]-dihydroalprenolol Hydrochloride</td>
			<td>American Radiolabeled Chemicals (USA)</td>
			<td>ART0134</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetyl phosphate lithium potassium salt (ACP)</td>
			<td>Merck (Germany)</td>
			<td>1409</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adenosine 5&#8217;-triphosphate (ATP)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>A9251</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alprenolol hydrochloride</td>
			<td>Merck (Germany)</td>
			<td>A0360000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anion exchange chromatography column material: Q-sepharose&#174;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>Q1126</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Autoclave Type GE 446EC-1</td>
			<td>Gettinge (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bioreactor Type 884 124/1</td>
			<td>B.Braun (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Sorvall RC12BP+; Thermo Scientific (Germany); Sorvall RC-5C; Thermo Scientific (Germany); Mikro 22 R; Hettich (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cholic acid</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>8137</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3862</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture flasks 500 ml baffled flasks, 2 l baffled flasks</td>
			<td>Schott Duran (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cytidine 5&#39;-triphosphate disodium salt</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>C1506</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D-glucose monohydrate</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>6780</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Di-potassiumhydrogen phosphate trihydrate</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>6878</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dialysis tubing SpectrumTM Labs Spectra/PorTM 12-14 kD MWCO Standard RC tubing</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific (Germany)</td>
			<td>8700152</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dithiothreit</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>6908</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>K928</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Folinic acid calcium salt hydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>47612</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>French pressure cell disruptor</td>
			<td>SLM; Amico Instruments (USA)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3783</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Guanosine 5&#39;-triphosphate di-sodium salt (GTP)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>G8877</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrochloric Acid</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>K025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IMAC column: HiTrap IMAC HP 5 mL</td>
			<td>GE Life Sciences (Germany)</td>
			<td>GE17-5248</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imidazole</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3899</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isopropyl-&#946;-D-thiogalactopyranosid (IPTG)</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>2316</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kanamycin</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>T832</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Alanine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3076.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Arginine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>6908</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Asparagine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>HN23</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Aspartic Acid</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>T202</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Cysteine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>T203</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamic Acid</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3774</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3772</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glycine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3187</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Histidine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3852</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Isoleucine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>3922</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Leucine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>1699</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Lysine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>4207</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Methionine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>9359</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Proline</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>1713</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Phenylalanine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>1709</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Serine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>4682</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Threonine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>1738</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Tryptophane</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>7700</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Tyrosine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>T207</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MD100 dialysis units</td>
			<td>Scienova (Germany)</td>
			<td>40077</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-2-Hydroxyethylpiperazine-N&#39;-2-ethansulfonic acid (HEPES)</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>6763</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>n-dodecylphosphocholine</td>
			<td>Antrace (USA)</td>
			<td>F308S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PAGE chamber: Mini-Protean Tetra Cell</td>
			<td>Biorad (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PAGE gel casting system: Mini Protean Handcast systems</td>
			<td>Biorad (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PAGE gel power supply: Power Pac 3000</td>
			<td>Biorad (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryptone/peptone from caseine</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>6681</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Peristaltic pump: ip-12</td>
			<td>Ismatec (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphoenol pyruvate monopotassium salt</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>860077</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium dihydrogen phosphate</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>P018</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium acetate</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>4986</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>6781</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pyruvate Kinase</td>
			<td>Roche (Germany)</td>
			<td>10109045001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scintillation counter: Hidex 300 SL</td>
			<td>Hidex (Finland)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SDS pellets</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>8029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium azide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>K305</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>P029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spectrophotometer Nanodrop</td>
			<td>Peqlab (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spectrophotometer/fluorescence reader Spark&#174;</td>
			<td>Tecan (Switzerland)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>tRNA (E. coli)</td>
			<td>Roche (Germany)</td>
			<td>10109550001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultra sonificator</td>
			<td>Labsonic U, B. Braun (Germany)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Uridine 5&#8217;-triphosphate tri-sodium salt (UTP)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>U6625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Y-30 antifoam</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich (Germany)</td>
			<td>A6457</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Yeast extract</td>
			<td>Carl Roth (Germany)</td>
			<td>2904</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

co-translational insertion of membrane proteins into preformed nanodiscs

Cell-free expression systems allow the tailored design of reaction environments to support the functional folding of even complex proteins such as membrane proteins. The experimental procedures for the co-translational insertion and folding of membrane proteins into preformed and defined membranes supplied as nanodiscs are demonstrated. The protocol is completely detergent-free and can generate milligrams of purified samples within one day. The resulting membrane protein/nanodisc samples can be used for a variety of functional studies and structural applications such as crystallization, nuclear magnetic resonance, or electron microscopy. The preparation of basic key components such as cell-free lysates, nanodiscs with designed membranes, critical stock solutions as well as the assembly of two-compartment cell-free expression reactions is described. Since folding requirements of membrane proteins can be highly diverse, a major focus of this protocol is the modulation of parameters and reaction steps important for sample quality such as critical basic reaction compounds, membrane composition of nanodiscs, redox and chaperone environment, or DNA template design. The whole process is demonstrated with the synthesis of proteorhodopsin and a G-protein coupled receptor.

The impact of fine-tuning reaction compounds on the final yield or quality of synthesized MPs is exemplified. A frequent routine approach is to adjust the optimal Mg2+ concentration in CF reactions by expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a convenient monitor of system efficiency. As an example, GFP was synthesized from a pET-21a(+) vector at Mg2+ concentrations between 14 and 24 mM (Figure 2). SDS-PAGE analysis identified the optimal Mg2+ concentr...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Co-Translational Insertion of Membrane Proteins into Preformed Nanodiscs at JoVE.com

Co-Translational Insertion of Membrane Proteins into Preformed Nanodiscs

Co-translational insertion into pre-formed nanodiscs makes it possible to study cell-free synthesized membrane proteins in defined lipid environments without contact with detergents. This protocol describes the preparation of essential system components and the critical parameters for improving expression efficiency and sample quality.

Cell-free expression systems allow the tailored design of reaction environments to support the functional folding of even complex proteins such as ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Using Scaffold Liposomes to Reconstitute Lipid-proximal Protein-protein Interactions In Vitro

Studies of integral membrane proteins in vitro are frequently complicated by the presence of a hydrophobic transmembrane domain. Further complicating ...

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Monotopic proteins exert their function when attached to a membrane surface, and such interactions depend on the specific lipid composition and on the ...

Nitrogen Cavitation and Differential Centrifugation Allows for Monitoring the Distribution of Peripheral Membrane Proteins in Cultured Cells

Cultured cells are useful for studying the subcellular distribution of proteins, including peripheral membrane proteins. Genetically encoded fluorescently ...

Detergent-free Ultrafast Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins into Lipid Bilayers Using Fusogenic Complementary-charged Proteoliposomes.

Detergents are indispensable for delivery of membrane proteins into 30-100 nm small unilamellar vesicles, while more complex, larger model lipid bilayers ...

Detection of Detergent-sensitive Interactions Between Membrane Proteins

Our ability to explore protein-protein interactions is the key to understanding regulatory connections in the cell. However, detection of protein-protein ...

A Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy Assay of Protein-Protein Interactions at Cell-Cell Contacts

A variety of biological processes involves cell-cell interactions, typically mediated by proteins that interact at the interface between neighboring ...

Isolation of Lipoprotein Particles from Chicken Egg Yolk for the Study of Bacterial Pathogen Fatty Acid Incorporation into Membrane Phospholipids

Staphylococcus aureus and other Gram-positive pathogens incorporate fatty acids from the environment into membrane phospholipids. During infection, the ...

Localization of SUMO-modified Proteins Using Fluorescent Sumo-trapping Proteins

Here we are presenting a novel method to study the sumoylation of proteins and their sub-cellular localization in mammalian cells and nematode oocytes. ...

PeptiQuick, a One-Step Incorporation of Membrane Proteins into Biotinylated Peptidiscs for Streamlined Protein Binding Assays

Membrane proteins, including transporters, channels, and receptors, constitute nearly one-fourth of the cellular proteome and over half of current drug ...

Acyl-PEGyl Exchange Gel Shift Assay for Quantitative Determination of Palmitoylation of Brain Membrane Proteins

Activity-dependent alterations in the levels of synaptic AMPA receptors (AMPARs) within the postsynaptic density (PSD) is thought to represent a cellular ...