Sigma-Aldrich has negotiated a deal with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) through which the firm will be able to offer two membrane scaffold proteins used in nanodisc technology, which were developed by researchers at the University’s School of Molecular and Cellular Biology. The agreement means Sigma-Aldrich can feature the membrane scaffold proteins MSP1D1 and MSP1E3D1 as part of its Sigma Life Science Portfolio.
Nanodiscs are self-assembling systems that can act to effectively solubilize typically insoluble molecules such as receptors, transporters, enzymes, and viral antigens. The nanodisc constructs provide a native-like bilayer environment while maintaining the target’s activity and represent a tool for studying a range of protein types.
Sigma-Alrdrich says the membrane scaffold proteins licensed from the university exploit amphipathic properties found in apolipoprotein A-1 to provide a multihelical scaffold for incorporating a range of target protein sizes.