Amphipols: polymers that keep membrane proteins soluble in aqueous solutions.
Amphipols are a new class of surfactants that make it possible to handle membrane proteins in detergent-free aqueous solution as though they were soluble proteins. The strongly hydrophilic backbone of these polymers is grafted with hydrophobic chains, making them amphiphilic. Amphipols are able to stabilize in aqueous solution under their native state four well-characterized integral membrane proteins: (i) bacteriorhodopsin, (ii) a bacterial photosynthetic reaction center, (iii) cytochrome b6f, and (iv) matrix porin.
Tribet
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité de Recherche Associée 278, Paris, France.
Audebert
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Popot
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D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000378:metabolism; D003573:Cytochrome b Group / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045346:Cytochrome b6f Complex; D004355:Drug Stability; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006217:Halobacterium / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008961:Models, Structural; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012995:Solubility; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D003573:Cytochrome b Group; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins; D045346:Cytochrome b6f Complex