Manipulation of Subunit Stoichiometry in Heteromeric Membrane Proteins

The ability of oligomeric membrane proteins to assemble in different functional ratios of subunits is a common feature across many systems. Recombinant expression of hetero-oligomeric proteins with defined stoichiometries facilitates detailed structural and functional analyses, but remains a major challenge. Here we present two methods for overcoming this challenge: one for rapid virus titration and another for stoichiometry determination. When these methods are coupled, they allow for efficient dissection of the heteromer stoichiometry problem and optimization of homogeneous protein expression. We demonstrate the utility of the methods in a system that to date has proved resistant to atomic-scale structural study, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Leveraging these two methods, we have successfully expressed, purified, and grown diffraction-quality crystals of this challenging target. [Display omitted] •Streamlined bacmam virus titration method•Fluorescent protein fusion approach for estimation of subunit ratio in a heteromer•Expression and crystallization of a defined nicotinic receptor stoichiometry Morales-Perez et al. developed a pair of methods to efficiently express defined stoichiometries of heteromeric membrane proteins. Application of this approach to a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that can assemble in multiple functional ratios of subunits has yielded diffraction-quality crystals of the receptor.