Bicelles and nanodiscs for biophysical chemistry

Membrane nanoobjects are very important tools to study biomembrane properties. Two types described herein: Bicelles and Nanodiscs. obtained by thorough water mixing of long chain short lipids may take the form membranous discs 10–50 nm. Temperature-composition-hydration diagrams have been established for Phosphatidylcholines show limited domains existence. can be doped with charged lipids, surfactants or cholesterol offer a wide variety platforms structural biology. Internal dynamics as measured solid-state NMR is similar that liposomes in their fluid phase. Because magnetic susceptibility anisotropy lipid chains, aligned along perpendicular field. They serve weak orienting media provide distance information determining 3D structure soluble proteins. In different conditions they strong properties which used structure, topology membrane Lipid biphenyl chains lanthanides lasting remnant orientation after removing field due smectic-like An alternative pure provided nanodiscs where half torus composed replaced This renders nano-objects less fragile stabilize protein assemblies studied electron microscopy. again except phase transition abolished, possibly lateral constrain imposed toroidal proteins limiting disc size. Advantages drawbacks both nanoplatforms discussed.