SMALP network
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SMALP Conference Registration

Our conferences bring together scientists from disciplines including biochemistry, biophysics, polymer chemistry, and chemical, molecular and cell biology in order to explore the latest conceptual and technical developments related to biomembranes.

The development of innovative methods for extracting and stabilizing membrane complexes such as SMA and related copolymers, scaffolds, saposins, peptidiscs, and native vesicles has driven progress in this growing field.

Models of membranes including fluid mosaic, lipid raft, mattress, membron, membrome, microdomain, nanodomain, and picket and fence hypotheses have been proposed, with the proteolipid code providing an inclusive and unifying framework, with a basis in memtein structural biology.

The advances rely on novel agents that fragment membranes into water-soluble nanodiscs, allowing the complex native structures and interactions found in vivo to be discerned without the scrambling and destabilization caused by conventional detergents.

New tools and models for discerning how membrane zones form and operate across cellular and evolutionary spaces provides insights into structures and functions of organelle and organ systems, as well as guiding biomarker and drug discovery.

Speakers on Tuesday June 18, 2024 include:

ptPeter Tieleman, Professor, University of Calgary and Canada Research Chair in Molecular Simulation on membrane modeling and fingerprinting

gnGarth Nicolson, President, The Institute for Molecular Medicine on the Singer-Nicolson Fluid--Mosaic Model of Cell Membranes

tkTroy Kervin, PhD Student with Peijun Zhang at U Oxford will present on how membranes are functionalized by the proteolipid code

Register: SMALP Webconference on June 18, 2024

Speakers and Videos from March 12, 2024:

ci chuCi Chu, PhD student, Heinrich-Heine-U, on capturing GPCRs into native lipid-bilayer nanodiscs using DIBMA copolymers.

Michael ErkelenzMichael Erkelenz, Cube Biotech will speak on A new multimodal memtein copolymer platform.

Jelger RisseladaJelger Risselada, Dept of Physics, TU Dortmund U, on Membrane facial recognition: How proteins actually see cholesterol.

Marzieh TabefamMarzieh Tabefam, Ph. D. student, WLU, on Exploring the Interconnection of Mitochondrial Carrier Proteins Involved in Energy Transfer.

RamsAyyalusamy Ramamoorthy, Professor, FSU, on detergent-free membrane protein isolation using nanodisc-forming polymers.

Elissa MollerElissa Moller, PhD student, NICHD, on using cryo-EM and polymers to resolve structures of mechanosensitive channels.

peter kimPeter Kim, Ph.D. Student, U Toronto, on structures of channel rhodopsin paralogs in peptidiscs and their ion selectivities.

wayland-chengWayland Cheng, Associate Professor, Washington U, on nanodisc scaffold and size altering ligand-gated ion channel structures.

Brian Adair, Instructor at Harvard Medical School, on cryo-EM structures of human integrins in native lipids.

Background on SMALP

The SMALP system is being developed by the international research community as an alternative to conventional detergents, which tend to dissociate, destabilize and deactivate native membrane proteins.

SMA polymer

A variety of amphipathic polymers like styrene maleic anhydride have been found to directly and spontaneously solubilize proteins and bound lipids from membranes when activated. This provides opportunities for understanding and exploiting the structure and function of native membrane protein complexes.

As SMALP technology is relatively new, the participation of the wider community and sharing of new ideas and practices amongst researchers is the best way to ensure continued rapid development of the field.

Join our network and come to our meetings to discover how SMALP materials and methods could be used in your research.

Join our community.

The SMALP network offers polymers, methods and meetings to support the growing community of scientists and companies interested in the preparation of membrane nanodiscs formed by polymers including styrene maleic acid for biological research and drug discovery applications.

Register for a day of insightful talks from experts in the structural biology and functions of membrane proteins and nanodisc development, discussions with academic and industry leaders, and enjoy breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks on us.

These events are offered to bring together academic and industry experts, postdocs and students who are interested in membrane protein structural biology, lipidomics, proteomics, target discovery and biophysical analysis of bilayers and amphipathic polymers.

We welcome researchers from across academia and industry to join us in lively discussions and debate about the latest advances in native nanodiscs, membrane proteins, polymer chemistry, lipid biophysics, structural biology, and applications including drug discovery and delivery.