Dependence of bicelle segregation on detergent hydrophobic area

Abstract

A challenge of membrane protein research includes preserving the stability and function of the protein in a native lipid bilayer mimic. Bicelles are an attractive option for membrane protein applications that require fast, isotropically-tumbling proteins complexes, such as solution NMR spectroscopy. The lipid core of bicelles maintains the bilayer-like design of the membrane, while the detergent “rim” stabilizes the hydrophobic core of the bicelle. However, the energetics that dictate the concentration for which phase segregation occurs in these detergent/lipid mixtures is unknown and results in an uncertainty of how membrane-like the lipid-detergent complexes are.