Room to Move: Crystallizing Membrane Proteins in Swollen Lipidic Mesophases

The cubic phase or in meso crystallization method is responsible for almost 40 solved integral membrane protein structures. Most of these are small and compact proteins. A model for how crystals form by the in meso method has been proposed that invokes a transition between mesophases. In light of this model, we speculated that a more hydrated and open mesophase, of reduced interfacial curvature, would support facile crystallization of bigger and...