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GET YOUR PROTEIN
Stop compromising. Start getting the actual protein.

REAL MEMBRANE PROTEINS

THE PROBLEM: Membrane proteins are difficult to express, fold, and stabilise. Their complex structure, containing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains, makes them particularly challenging to work with. Overexpression in cells can lead to toxicity, and maintaining structural integrity after purification is difficult.

COMMON PROBLEMS

Fragments

Working with truncated proteins alters structure and removes key domains, leading to inaccurate models.

Cell-Based Expression

Low yields and difficult scale-up limit experimental possibilities and slow research progress.

Detergents

Proteins that naturally exist in lipid bilayers are stabilised in detergents, compromising their native structure.

Cell-Free With Nanodiscs

Proteins insert into membranes post-translation in an uncontrolled way, resulting in non-native conformations and heterogeneous samples.

ALiCE® MAKES MEMBRANE
PROTEINS ACCESSIBLE

ALiCE® recreates the natural process of membrane protein expression. It uses ribosome-studded microsomes with active SEC translocation pathways, enabling proteins to be inserted into membranes during translation. This results in native-like folding and functional integrity. Without living cells, ALiCE® allows high expression levels without toxicity limitations. Proteins can then be isolated within their native lipid environment using copolymers.

Hotspot image
1
mRNA translated by ribosomes, peptide chains folds or aggregates in cytosol.
2
Nanodisc added, peptide chain inserts into membrane based on hydrophobic interactions.
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Insertion is driven by thermodynamics – multiple conformations obtained.
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mRNA translated by microsome-bound ribosomes. Active SEC pathway inserts chain into membrane.
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Copolymer added, inserts into membrane..
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Full-length protein, correctly folded and assembled with membrane.Soluble and ready to purify.
ALiCE®

KEY BENEFITS

  • Full-length proteins
  • Native membrane environment
  • High yields
  • Functional integrity

PROOF

CASE 1: 
Increased yield with maintained function

ALiCE® produced a multi-pass membrane protein with approximately 100 µg/mL yield, compared to less than 2 µg/mL in HEK systems. Binding activity remained comparable, with over 90% purity achieved in a single purification step.

CASE 2:
First full-length expression of FGFR3-TACC3

After decades of research challenges, ALiCE® enabled full-length expression of FGFR3-TACC3, achieving yields greater than 300 µg/mL with minimal optimisation.

APPLICATION

ALiCE® is available as a service for outsourced projects or can be implemented directly in your laboratory.

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