Detergents are typically used to both extract membrane proteins (MPs) from the lipid bilayer and maintain them in solution. However, MPs encapsulated in detergent micelles are often prone to denaturation and aggregation. Thus, development of novel agents with enhanced stabilization characteristics is necessary to advance MP research. Maltose neopentyl glycol-3 (MNG-3) has contributed to >10 crystal structures including G-protein coupled receptors. Here we prepared MNG-3 analogues and characterised their properties using selected MPs. Most MNGs behaved superior to a conventional detergent, n–dodecyl–β–D–maltopyranoside (DDM), in terms of membrane protein stabilization efficacy. Interestingly, optimal stabilization was achieved with different MNG-3 analogues depending on the target MP. The origin for such detergent specificity could be explained by a novel concept: compatibility between detergent hydrophobicity and MP tendency to denature and aggregate. This set of MNGs represents viable alternatives to currently available detergents for handling MPs, and can be also used as tools to estimate MP sensitivity to denaturation and aggregation.

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Elucidation of atomic structures of membrane proteins (MP) is of great importance for comprehensive understanding of their functions and mechanism of actions. Determination of high resolution protein structures by X-ray crystallography requires crystallisation of a protein of interest. Obtaining wellordered protein crystals however, is not an easy task and many factors can contribute to unsuccessful crystallisation. The situation will get much trickier when dealing with MP owing to the fact that they are not soluble in their innate state after extraction from the lipid bilayer environment. Unless appropriate detergents are used to stabilise proteins by mimicking their native environment, MP tend to unravel, thus becoming dysfunctional. This study evaluates the effectiveness of using Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP)-based system as C-terminal tag in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for pre-crystallisation study of Elaeis guineensis MP from the K + Transporter/ K + Uptake Permease/High Affinity K + (KT/KUP/ HAK) superfamily. KT/KUP/HAK are one of the most important MP responsible for potassium uptake in plants. Development of recombinant expression system for high-level protein production is necessary as the vast majority of MP cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities from their native environment. The precrystallisation analyses were conducted on three EgKUP-GFP fusions, namely EgKUP3-GFP, EgKUP8-GFP and EgKUP11-GFP. The analyses involved whole-cell florescent count of each fusion protein using spectrofluorometer, protein integrity assay by SDS-PAGE, cellular localisation by confocal fluorescence microscopy and effects of various detergents towards EgKUPs' stability and monodispersity using Fluorescence Size Exclusion Chromatography (FSEC). Results from the evaluation, associated problems and proposed troubleshootings are discussed.

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