ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Investigating lipid and polymer exchange processes in protein-containing polymer-stabilised nanodiscs

Abstract: Poly-Styrene-co-Maleic Acid Lipid Particles (SMALPs) are discoidal self-assembled nanoparticles containing a central lipid bilayer core stabilised by a radial amphipathic polymer belt, used to extract membrane proteins directly from host cell membranes complete with annular lipids. Recent studies from ourselves and others have shown that lipids and polymers within SMALPs rapidly exchange with other SMALPs in bulk solution, phospholipid monolayers, and phospholipid bilayers. Here, we propose to use neutron reflectometry, with selective deuteration and solution isotopic contrast variation to continue our study to specifically investigate the influence of the volume of the SMALP occupied by encapsulated proteins the rates and extents of exchange processes between SMALPs and lipid bilayers at the silicon-water interface. This information will be of great importance to fully utilise and expand the biotechnological potential of SMALPs.

Local Contact: Dr Stephen Hall
Experimenter: Professor Karen Edler
Experimenter: Professor Tim Dafforn
Experimenter: Dr Naomi Pollock
Experimenter: Dr Thomas Arnold

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2420519

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2420519

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Stephen Hall et al; (2025): Investigating lipid and polymer exchange processes in protein-containing polymer-stabilised nanodiscs, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2420519

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.