'Shield' gives tricky proteins a new identity
Integral membrane proteins also are notoriously hard to synthesize and study, which explains why so few have been fully, three-dimensionally characterized with protein crystallography. Using standard recombinant DNA techniques and some novel design principles, Cornell chemical engineers have developed a new method for making large quantities of integral membrane proteins simply and inexpensively – all without the use of harsh chemicals, or detergents, typically used today.