Research Tools

The Structural Biology program has transitioned from Common Fund support. For more information, please visit Program Snapshot page.

Please note that since the Structural Biology program is no longer supported by the Common Fund, the program website is being maintained as an archive and will not be updated on a regular basis.

Reagents Available through Structural Biology Program

Commercially available single-chain phosphocholine detergents are usually very efficient at solubilizing biological membranes but are often quite harsh and denature proteins. To address this issue, investigators in the JCIMPT-Complexes center have synthesized a class of lipid-like Fos detergents and facial amphiphiles to stabilize integral membrane proteins.

Documents describing the lipid-like phosphocholine detergents are available. Please contact Professor Qinghai Zhang (Qinghai@scripps.edu) or Professor Ray Stevens (stevens@scripps.edu) if you have questions or comments regarding the availability and use of these compounds. Some facial amphiphiles can now also be purchased commercially. 

The MPEC center has an extensive list of detergents used to solubilize membrane proteins. The complete list of these reagents can be accessed here.

Apply for membrane protein production by MPEC investigators | Apply for visits/sabbaticals at JCIMPT

MPEC also has a nomination process for investigators to submit membrane proteins of interests for characterization. Information on this process can be found here, and the application form can be found here.

Investigators interested in obtaining further experience in protein expression and characterization techniques can apply for sabbaticals at The Scripps Research Institute.