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Webinar recap: Frank Bernhard’s Cell-Free Workflow for Cryo-EM–Ready Membrane Protein Complexes When dealing with complex G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), traditional cell-based expression of membrane proteins often results in toxicity, aggregation, or the need for heavy engineering just to get the protein to the membrane. Once in the membrane, detergent extraction removes the critical lipids GPCRs…

A Faster Route to Active G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) GPCRs account for roughly one-third of approved drug targets1, yet they remain among the hardest targets to produce in a purified, stable, active form. In this blog, we will explore why timelines slip at the “expression-to-function” step, and how cell-free protein synthesis paired with nanodiscs deliver…

Membrane proteins account for 25–30% of the human proteome and represent over half of all FDA-approved drug targets1,2. Yet, while producing them for drug discovery, these proteins remain famously fragile during purification. While detergents can extract receptors and transporters, they strip away annular lipids and often push proteins into non-native conformations3.   Nanodiscs solve this…