MEMBRANE PROTEIN RESEARCH SERVICES
Our tools and expertise. Your insights.
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Cube Biotech
Purified proteins
inserted into
detergent
micelles
Variable
nanodisc
scaffold
proteins and
phospholipids
Ion exchange
chromatography
Affinity
chromatography
Hydrophobic
interaction
chromatography
Western blot:
size and
presence of
affinity tag
determination
Proteins
inserted
directly from
membranes
into nanodiscs
Nascent proteins
inserted into
nanodiscs
during cell-free
synthesis
Protein melting:
measure of
stability
SEC:
purity and
homogeneity
measures
SDS-PAGE:
size and
purity
determination
Pulldown
experiments:
qualitative
ligand binding
characterization
Tryptophan
fluorescence:
tertiary
structure
determination
ELISA:
quantitative
measure of
ligand binding
CD
spectroscopy:
secondary
structure
determination
Binding
measures
with proteinspecific affinity
matrices
Crystallization
in microbatch
under oil
Vapor diffusion
crystallization
of soluble and
membrane
proteins
Proprietary
controlled in
meso phase
crystallization
Lipidic
cubic phase
crystallization
in batch
3D Structure
determination
and cocrystallization
with ligands
[MEMBRANE] PROTEIN CRYSTALLIZATION
[MEMBRANE] PROTEIN CHARACTERIZATION
MEMBRANE PROTEIN
STABILIZATION IN NANODISCS
Size exclusion
chromatography
Detergent
screening and
application
matching
[MEMBRANE] PROTEIN PURIFICATION
Expression in
E. coli or insect
cells
SPR:
ligand binding
features and
kinetics
Crystallization
of soluble
proteins by
counterdiffusion
Cell-free
expression in
E. coli lysates
Expression
vector
generation
A SPECTRUM OF POSSIBILITIES AND THE EXPERTISE TO USE THEM.
Our service goal is to suggest, optimize, and deliver the best workflow for your
project. Thus, we offer an extensive palette of tools and methods covering
from expression through to characterization and crystallization of membrane
proteins. Based on discussions about your needs and a systematic examination
of approaches in the literature, we assemble a service proposal that delivers
the answers you want with options to meet budget or other constraints.
OUR SERVICES ARE MODULAR. You pick and choose the components that should
be included in your project.
UNRESTRICTED. We are not tied to a single, proprietary
method. We find and use the methods that deliver answers.
COMPREHENSIVE. You receive expert advice, precise project
management, regular updates, and detailed documentation.
IMPLEMENTATION-READY. The protocols and consumables
we develop are yours to integrate into your work.
[MEMBRANE] PROTEIN EXPRESSION
Optimal expression
systems and protocols
OR
Variable scale cell-free
expression strategies
SOURCE PURE, STABILIZED MEMBRANE PROTEINS
YOU NEED A pure, stabilized membrane protein in low milligram
amounts for ligand binding studies, antibody specificity
screenings, or other functional assays.
YOU HAVE Information about the target protein, such as the DNA
sequence of the corresponding gene.
Nanodiscs designed
with different
scaffold proteins and
phospholipids to
model tissue-specific
characteristics or test
parameters
Expert design of
expression constructs
WE PROVIDE
Design and sourcing of expression construct,
tailored for the planned expression and purification
strategy.
Production of the protein in the most effective
expression system to yield needed quantities.
Solubilization with proteinmatched detergents
Development of an efficient purification strategy to
generate pure, homogenous isolates.
Stabilization of the membrane protein in optimal
detergent micelles or in tailored nanodiscs using
relevant scaffold proteins and phospholipids.
Efficient purification using
high-quality matrices
YOU GET
The optimized DNA template for expression and the
stabilized membrane protein.
Electronic documentation of every optimization
and all protocols; regular reports on results.
FROM GENE TO PURE PROTEIN
Our laboratory offers the expertise and infrastructure to
express membrane and soluble proteins at various scales
using Escherichia coli, insect cell-baculovirus systems, or cellfree systems with E. coli lysates. This work is coupled with
systematic detergents screening, high-quality purification and,
in the case of membrane proteins, incorporation into designed
nanodiscs to offer a trusted supply of your target protein or a
complete transfer of technology to your lab.
The option to source the target protein from our
laboratory.
The option to obtain all protocols and reagents to
integrate some or all steps into your own work.
Note: we also deliver high-purity soluble proteins.
DETERMINE STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES
YOU NEED Accurate and comprehensive structural details about a
(membrane) protein for drug design.
YOU HAVE Either the DNA sequence of the corresponding gene or
the purified protein itself.
WE PROVIDE
Production of sufficient protein to optimize and
carry out crystallization (see previous pages).
Characterization of the purified protein and
assessment of its quality for crystallization.
Selection and optimization of methodology and
expert crystallization of the protein or
co-crystallization of protein and ligand.
Synchotron measurement of crystals.
Complete characterization and structure solving
with resulting crystals.
YOU GET
Crystals of the target protein.
Documentation of crystallization conditions.
Complete dataset and structural analysis of the
target protein or protein-ligand pair.
INSIGHTS FROM CRYSTALS
Protein crystallization is a demanding procedure involving
screenings, protocol adjustments, and trial and error to arrive
at conditions that enable crystal growth. Knowledge and
experience streamline the process. Offering techniques from
vapor diffusion crystallization of soluble proteins to controlled in
meso phase and lipidic cubic phase crystallization of membraneassociated and transmembrane proteins, we can be the expert
extension of your lab for structural determination.
Electronic documentation of every optimization
and all protocols; regular reports on results.
CREATE DEDICATED RESEARCH TOOLS
YOU NEED A protein-specific purification matrix to research difficult
proteins or for specialized experiments.
ABOVE AND BEYOND PURIFICATION
Matrices used for affinity chromatography are more than tools
for purification. Loaded with protein-specific ligands, such as
agonists, antibodies, peptides, and small proteins, they enable
new experimental applications. You can isolate proteins that
are active or in a particular conformation, conduct functional
studies, examine protein-agonist interactions, and much more.
We have an array of “building blocks” to create specialized
affinity matrices to push boundaries in your research.
Produced under rotation, an affinity resin acquires its distinctive color as it loads with nickel.
YOU HAVE A particular ligand (small molecule, protein, antibody)
or ligand information so we can source or produce it.
WE PROVIDE
Expert design of coupling chemistry, including
advice on matrix material, linkers, or spacers.
A pilot batch of the chemical synthesis for testing
or the batch with a comprehensive evaluation.
The optimized resin in sufficient quantities for
planned experiments.
An accompanying purification strategy that
maximizes output and purity.
YOU GET
Reliable and optionally exclusive sourcing of the
optimized purification matrix.
Electronic documentation of every optimization
and all protocols; regular reports on results.
The option to obtain all protocols and reagents to
integrate some or all steps into your own work.
YOUR
EXPERT
PROTEIN
TEAM
DR. BARBARA MAERTENS
DR. JAN KUBICEK
DR. ROLAND FABIS
Barbara’s doctoral and postdoctoral work focused
on analysis of protein interactions and optimization
of protein expression and purification. With over 5
years experience in product development at QIAGEN
for recombinant protein expression and advanced
purification strategies, Barbara heads up our services
in cell-free protein expression, nanodisc design and
implementation, and ligand binding studies by SPR.
Jan is expert in functional and structural analysis of
proteins, with specialized training and experience in
crystallization. Working at the Forschungszentrum
Jülich and QIAGEN, he developed the controlled in
meso phase crystallization method for membrane
proteins. Jan is responsible for production and
crystallization of membrane proteins, as well as
protein reconstitution in nanodiscs.
With expertise in surface modification and siliconorganic compounds and unhemmed creativity in
chemical synthesis, Roland was instrumental in
developing exceptional technologies used in magnetic
particle synthesis and protein purification at QIAGEN.
Now, Roland applies his knowledge to the design and
production of our high-quality affinity matrices—from
our popular Rho1D4 resin to customized matrices.
DR. UTE BORONOWSKY
ROLAND GAMP
With a PhD and postdoctoral training in membrane
protein biochemistry and over a decade experience
in technical support, sales, and marketing at
QIAGEN, Ute has insightful knowledge of hurdles
and bottlenecks in protein research. She captures
research needs and translates them into a palette of
tools and services that drive research forward.
No business is successful without someone who
watches the bottomline. Roland has almost 10
years working experience in accounting, business
economics, and tax consulting. In addition to
managing the finances of our company, Roland
oversees our project planning and budgeting so we
can deliver the best services at reasonable prices.
Head of Sales & Marketing
Senior Scientist
Head of Finance
Head of Operations, Managing Director
Lipid coating on plates used in controlled in meso phase (CIMP) crystallization.
Head of Protein Services, Managing Director
Cube Biotech Inc.
600 W. Germantown Pike, STE 110
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
USA
Phone: +484 270 6557
Fax: +484 368 3558
Email: [email protected]
Cube Biotech GmbH
Creative Campus Monheim
Alfred-Nobel-Str. 10
40789 Monheim
Germany
Phone: +49 2173 99 373 0
Fax: +49 2173 99 373 99
Email: [email protected]
Proteins are our passion.
Our passion works for you.
Visit us at www.cube-biotech.com