A review of factors affecting the success of membrane protein crystallization using bicelles

Several reports have been published detailing various platforms for obtaining crystals of membrane proteins to determine their structure including those that use disk shaped bilayers called bicelles. While these crystals have been readily grown and used for X-ray diffraction, the general understanding as to why bicelles are adequate for such a procedure or how to rationally choose conditions remains unknown. This review intends to discuss issues of protein stabilization and precipitation in the presence of lipids that may influence crystal formation.