The Next Generation in Membrane Protein Structure Determination

This book reviews current techniques used in membrane protein structural biology, with a strong focus on practical issues. The study of membrane protein structures not only provides a basic understanding of life at the molecular level but also helps in the rational and targeted design of new drugs with reduced side effects.  Today, about 60% of the commercially available drugs target membrane proteins and it is estimated that nearly 30% of proteins encoded in the human genome are membrane proteins. In recent years much effort has been put towards innovative developments to overcome the numerous obstacles associated with the structure determination of membrane proteins. This book reviews a variety of recent techniques that are essential to any modern researcher in the field of membrane protein structural biology. The topics that are discussed are not commonly found in textbooks. The scope of this book includes:Expression screening using fluorescent proteinsThe use of detergents in membrane protein researchThe use of NMRSynchrotron developments in membrane protein structural biologyVisualisation and X-ray data collection of microcrystalsX-ray diffraction data analysis from multiple crystalsSerial millisecond crystallographySerial femtosecond crystallographyMembrane protein structures in drug discoveryThe information provided in this book should be of interest to anyone working in the area of structural biology. Students will find carefully prepared overviews of basic ideas and advanced protein scientists will find the level of detail required to apply the material directly to their day to day work.Chapters 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 of this book are published open access under a CC BY 4.0 license at link.springer.com.