Tools and Reagents for Lipidic Cubic Phase Crystallization

Monoolein is the most commonly used host lipid for LCP and supports the crystallization of membrane proteins from a variety of classes. The properties of the cubic phase formed by monoolein can be altered through doping with lipid additives such as cholesterol, DSPG, DOPC, DOPS, and Lyos-PC.

Commonly used for the LCP crystallization of GPCR proteins, this mixture contains a 10:1 ratio of monoolein : cholesterol and can be used directly for LCP experiments. No more dissolving lipids in chloroform and worrying if all of the solvent is removed! Read more in our April 2018 Newsletter.

7.7 MAG was first characterized by the lab of Martin Caffrey and utilized in the groundbreaking 2011 structure of the β2 Adrenergic Receptor-Gs protein complex by the Kobilka Lab. The cubic phase formed by 7.7 MAG has very different properties compared to monoolein including a thinner bilayer thickness, and a larger solvent channel diameter. Read more in our March 2019 Newsletter.

Monopalmitolein was the host lipid used for the LCP-SFX structure of the human rhodopsin - arrestin complex. This structure was one of the first LCP structures to be determined using serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography (SFX). Monopalmitolein does not undergo a phase transition upon injection into a vacuum, which makes it particularly suited for this method.

The anionic lipid additive distearoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DSPG) can be added to any LCP host lipid. Characterized by the lab of Raffaele Mezzenga from ETH Zurich, doping with DSPG results in the swelling of the solvent channels of the host lipid allowing for the LCP crystallization of membrane proteins with large intracellular or extracellular domains. Read more in our April 2018 newsletter. 

Cholesterol is commonly used as an additive to LCP host lipids, especially for the LCP crystallization of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Dodecyl Maltoside (DDM) is the most commonly used detergent in membrane protein crystallization, and along with LMNG, is often used for LCP crystallization experiments.

Lauryl Maltose Neopentyl Glycol (LMNG / MNG-3) is a commonly used detergent for membrane protein crystallization, and along with DDM, is often used for LCP crystallization experiments.

The addition of Cholesteryl Hemisuccinate (CHS) to DDM is commonly used for the determination of eukaryotic membrane protein structures, specifically G-protein coupled receptors. To save time and increase reproducibility, we offer a premixed DDM-CHS mixture in a 10:1 (10% DDM / 1% CHS) ratio.

The addition of Cholesteryl Hemisuccinate (CHS) to LMNG is commonly used for the determination of eukaryotic membrane protein structures, specifically G-protein coupled receptors. To save time and increase reproducibility, we offer a premixed LMNG-CHS mixture in a 10:1 (5% DDM / 0.5% CHS) ratio.

Laminex offers considerable advantages for viewing and imaging LCP crystallization experiments. These include improved visualization, and simpler harvesting.

MemGoldMeso is the most up-to-date LCP crystallization screen available. Developed by Prof. Simon Newstead and Dr. Joanne Parker of Oxford University, this screen was developed from a hand-curated database and reduces bias to GPCR and rhodopsin structures.

Developed in conjunction with the laboratory of Prof. Osamu Nureki at the University of Tokyo, Japan, this semi-systematic screen has been designed to work in synergy with the Lipidic Cubic Phase (LCP) method.