Products

Styrene-Maleic Acid Copolymer 2(3):1 for Nanodiscs 

Styrene-maleic acid (SMA) copolymers are broadly used for function and structure studies of membrane

proteins. The significant advantages of using SMA copolymers include (1) generating a detergent-free

system and (2) forming bilayer nanodiscs with phospholipids. Application of SMA copolymers opens an

avenue of membrane protein extraction from cell membranes and proteoliposomes in the absence of

detergent. The extracted membrane proteins are stabilized in the nanodiscsthat mimic the bilayer structure of

lipids in nature. The membrane proteins in nanodiscs can be purified and employed in biochemical,

biophysical and biological experiments.

For example, the nanodiscs can be used for structure studies of membrane proteins by electronic

microscopy (EM). Typically SMA copolymers 2:1 forms nanodiscs in a size about 30 nm while SMA

copolymers 3:1 forms nanodiscs in a size about 10 nm.

The ideal pH for nanodisc formation is between pH 7.0 – 8.0.

ProFoldin has made the following acid and the sodium salt forms of SMA copolymers available.  The

copolymers are simply dissolved in a buffer for preparation of nanodiscs by solubilizing cell membranes or

liposomes.  The styrene: maleic acid 2:1 copolymer generates 30 nm particles and the 3:1 one gives 10 nm

particles with DOPC liposomes.

Styrene-Maleic Acid Copolymer 2(3):1 Free Acidis the free acid form of SMA Copolymer with a molar ratio of

styrene to maleic acid of 2(3):1. The copolymer molecular weight is 10.1(7.8) kDa.

The package size is 100mg [catalog No. SMA21(31)-100mg] or 500mg [catalog No. SMA21(31)-500mg]

Styrene-Maleic Acid Copolymer 2(3):1 Sodium Saltis the sodium salt form of SMA copolymer with a molar

ratio of styrene to maleic acid of 2(3):1. The copolymer molecular weight is 10.4(8.6) kDa.

The package size is 100mg [catalog No. SMA21S(31S)-100mg] or 500 mg [catalog No. SMA21S(31S)-

500mg]

 Data sheet Styrene-Maleic Acid Copolymer 2:1 for Nanodiscs (PDF)

 Data sheet Styrene-Maleic Acid Copolymer 3:1 for Nanodiscs (PDF)