Abstract
Membrane proteins (MPs) are involved in the regulation of various fundamental cellular functions, such as cell recognition, receptor-mediated signal transduction and selective transportation of metabolites. However despite their huge importance, researches in MPs are relatively limited. For example MPs represent approximately 30% of the human proteome and less than 1% of current Protein Data Bank entries. Indeed, the presence of hydrophobic domains in MPs makes them not soluble in water. Therefore surfactants are used to extract MPs from their native environment and substitute for lipids around the transmembrane domain of the protein, forming water-soluble complexes. However MPs are often unstable in surfactant solution because of the intrusion of the alkyl chain of the surfactant into the transmembrane domain and/or the dissociation of stabilizing lipids, cofactors or subunits. Our project aims to study, through a multidisciplinary approach, the influence of surfactants for MP crystallization. Since dodecylmaltoside (DDM) is the most common gentle detergent used for MPs crystallization, we synthesized three new structurally DDM-derivative surfactants whose designs were expected to limit MPs inactivation. The objective was to increase the rigidity and the lipophobic behavior of the hydrophobic moiety by adding a bicyclohexyl group (PCC-maltoside) or using different lengths of fluorinated segments (F4H5- and F2H9-maltoside). Comparison of these surfactants with DDM occurs on:Physico-chemical properties: Surfactants are characterized by their CMC, molar mass (SEC-MALS, SAXS), hydrodynamic size (DLS), form factor (SAXS) and structure factor (A2, indicator of surfactant potential to lead to crystallization) in order to determine their best characteristics for MPs crystallization. Biochemical properties: We chose the RC-LH1-Puf X complex from Rhodobacter blasticus as model protein because of its biological interest. Besides this membrane protein has already been crystallized in DDM giving a low diffraction resolution (8Å). A better understanding of mechanisms involved in crystallization is a prerequisite for the development of rational approaches to increase crystals quality. Therefor protein complexes are characterized by quantifying lipids and surfactants bound to the transmembrane domain. Surfactant and lipid assays are performed by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC). Crystallization trials: we show the link between crystallization and surfactants physico-chemical properties