Membrane protein solubilization and structure determination using de novo–designed proteins

L Ljubica Mihaljević D David E. Kim P Pooja D. Bandawane (Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) H Helen E. Eisenach (Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) A Andrew J. Borst A Alexis Courbet C Connor Weidle K Kenneth D. Carr E Everton Bettin (Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.) Q Qiushi Liu (Kymab, a Sanofi Company, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.) A Aldo T. Trejos (Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) S Sagardip Majumder S Surabhi Kokane (Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.) A Alexander Stevens (Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.) E Edin Muratspahić T Thomas Schlichthaerle M Marc Expòsit (Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) X Xinting Li M Mila Lamb A Analisa Nicole Azcárraga Murray (Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) R Rashmi Ravichandran (Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) E Elizabeth C. Williams (Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) S Shuyuan Hu (Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) L Lynda Stuart L Linda Grillová (Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.) N Nicholas R. Thomson M Michael Landreh (Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.) P Pengxiang Chang (Kymab, a Sanofi Company, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.) L Lorenzo Giacani (Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.) M Melissa J. Caimano (Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.) K Kelly L. Hawley (Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.) N Neil P. King D David Baker

Abstract

Developing therapies and vaccines against integral membrane proteins is hindered by their extensive hydrophobic surfaces, which complicate production and structural analysis. Here, we describe a general deep learning–based design approach for solubilizing native membrane proteins while preserving their sequence, fold, active-site, and ligand-binding properties. Genetically encoded de novo protein WRAPs [water-soluble RFdiffused amphipathic proteins] surround the lipid-interacting hydrophobic surfaces, rendering them thermostable and water-soluble without the need for detergents. We design WRAPs for both monomeric and oligomeric beta-barrel outer membrane proteins and helical multipass transmembrane proteins. A 2.95-angstrom-resolution cryo–electron microscopy structure of WRAPed mycobacterial porin demonstrates that WRAPs can be used for the structural determination of membrane proteins in solution. As a step toward syphilis vaccine development, we generated soluble versions of Treponema pallidum antigens.

Article Details

Journal Science
Volume / Issue Vol. 393, Issue 6806
Published July 02, 2026
ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science

Journal Info

Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN: 0036-8075 Social Sciences

Authors (33)

L

Ljubica Mihaljević

D

David E. Kim

P

Pooja D. Bandawane

Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

H

Helen E. Eisenach

Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

A

Andrew J. Borst

A

Alexis Courbet

C

Connor Weidle

K

Kenneth D. Carr

E

Everton Bettin

Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.

Q

Qiushi Liu

Kymab, a Sanofi Company, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

A

Aldo T. Trejos

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

S

Sagardip Majumder

S

Surabhi Kokane

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

A

Alexander Stevens

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

E

Edin Muratspahić

T

Thomas Schlichthaerle

M

Marc Expòsit

Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

X

Xinting Li

M

Mila Lamb

A

Analisa Nicole Azcárraga Murray

Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

R

Rashmi Ravichandran

Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

E

Elizabeth C. Williams

Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

S

Shuyuan Hu

Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

L

Lynda Stuart

L

Linda Grillová

Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.

N

Nicholas R. Thomson

M

Michael Landreh

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

P

Pengxiang Chang

Kymab, a Sanofi Company, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.

L

Lorenzo Giacani

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

M

Melissa J. Caimano

Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.

K

Kelly L. Hawley

Department of Pediatrics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.

N

Neil P. King

D

David Baker