Membrane Protein Research
Membrane proteins play many important functions in vivo, ranging from transport to signaling. In the cyclic network of biological processes, membrane proteins are key hubs, and most drugs interact with specific membrane proteins to achieve therapeutic effects. Membrane proteins are the targets of therapeutic drugs for many diseases. Therefore, the study of membrane proteins become a crucial part of disease research and drug discovery.
Membrane Protein Products
Based on their topology and structure, membrane proteins are classified into subtypes I, II, III, IV, or V. Most eukaryotic membrane proteins belong to either type I or type III, with one or more transmembrane domains, respectively. Type II membrane proteins span the membrane similar to type I membrane proteins, but in the opposite orientation, that is, with the amino terminus in the cytoplasm. Type IV and V membrane proteins are anchored to the cell via a lipid chain or a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) module. According to their biological functions, membrane proteins can be subdivided into receptors, cell adhesion or anchoring proteins, membrane-associated enzymes, transporters, and GPI proteins.
Amerigo Scientific offers high-purity membrane proteins including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), full-length ion channel proteins, and transporters with high purity and stability. In addition, we also offer membrane proteins prepared from documented and compliant quality tissues including human normal and diseased tissues.
Tools for Membrane Protein Research
Because membrane proteins are present at low levels, they are not easily purified, and require detergents to be soluble in aqueous solutions. To maintain the physiologically relevant conformation required for productive of drug discovery, the transmembrane region of purified membrane proteins needs a hydrophobic environment that mimics the native membrane. Detergents are commonly used to extract membrane proteins from recombinant cell membranes and maintain them in solution during purification, but may compromise the quality of the protein over time and are unstable after dilution. In membrane protein purification, it is crucial to select a detergent suitable for the dissolution and purification of a specific membrane protein. Amerigo Scientific offers non-ionic detergents for extracting, solubilizing, and stabilizing specific membrane proteins. We also offer non-ionic stabilization reagents for isolating full-length membrane proteins in solution with the highest purity levels, while keeping the structural and functional integrity of membrane proteins. Our detergents and reagents are designed to preserve the original structure and function of membrane proteins.
In addition, Amerigo Scientific offers membrane protein extraction kits for efficient extraction and stabilization of membrane proteins from the cell membranes, tools for the preparation of folded membrane proteins, and styrene maleic acid (SMA) copolymers for function and structure studies of membrane proteins.
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