Membrane modeling media

The course is designed to provide the fundamental knowledge about the basic principles of the use of membrane modeling media, their structure and aspects of use for structural studies of membrane proteins.

The discipline "Membrane Biology" was developed to the students with the basic knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology. The goal of the discipline “Membrane modeling media” is to provide the fundamental knowledge about the basic principles of the use of membrane modeling media, their structure and aspects of use for structural studies of membrane proteins. The main objectives of the course are to form an understanding of 1) the structure of the cell membrane and its components; 2) knowledge about the main types of membrane modeling media; 3) knowledge of methods for integration of protein molecules into a membrane modeling environment; 4) development of practical skills to use modern membrane modeling media for stabilization and research of membrane proteins. The course highlights the advantages of the integrated interdisciplinary approach in solving problems of molecular and structural biology. To successfully master the discipline, students must: • Know the basics of general, inorganic and organic chemistry and general biology, as well as molecular biology; • Be able to analyze information, formalize research results, work with the literature; • Possess basic skills of working with the literature and oral presentation. The discipline " Membrane modeling media" prepares students for pre-graduate practice and completion of final qualifying work. Topics of classes (lectures, seminars, projects) 

 Theme 1: Membrane modeling media based on detergents: micelles, bicelles. Classification of detergents. Selecting the “right” detergent for structural studies of membrane proteins. Bicelles. Factors determining the size of bicelles. Scope and limitations. Approaches for embedding membrane proteins into micelles and bicelles. Characterization of function of membrane proteins incorporated into different membrane modeling media on the example of bacteriorhodopsin. 

 Theme 2: Membrane modeling media based on liposomes, lipid protein nanodiscs, amphipoles. Types of lipid vesicles. Lipid protein nanodiscs, apolipoproteins, history of discovery, structure. Application of nanodiscs for structural studies using NMR and cryo-EM methods. Approaches for embedding membrane proteins into nanodisc membranes. Application of nanodiscs for renaturation of membrane proteins. Amphipoles. Purification of membrane proteins incorporated into lipid-protein nanodiscs and amphipoles. 

 Theme 3: Dependence of nanodisc size on lipid composition. Methods for measurement of the size of (membrane protein/membrane media) complexes. Characterization of function of membrane proteins incorporated into different membrane modeling media on the example of bacteriorhodopsin.