# Developing next-generation nanodiscs for the study and modulation of membrane proteins

> **NIH NIH DP2** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2020 · $1,031,163

## Abstract

Abstract
Membranes proteins are essential molecules to support cell growth, mediate signal transduction, and
maintain homeostasis. They are either associated with, or embedded in the lipid bilayer, thus exhibit
complex chemical properties and present formidable challenges for biophysical studies. Over the past
few decades, enormous efforts have focused on providing mechanistic insights into these sophisticated
macromolecules. However, the progress is hampered by the lack of robust tools to facilitate structural
and functional studies for membrane proteins. Moreover, the water-insoluble lipid bilayer makes it
notoriously difficult to modulate these proteins for therapeutic purposes. To address these problems,
the proposed research aims to develop next-generation nanodiscs that enact simple and
straightforward interrogation and modulation of membrane proteins. First, we will develop a detergent-
free nanodisc system to ease the isolation of integral membrane proteins from their native lipid
environment. Second, we will engineer nanodisc reporters to allow rapid and label-free detection of
membrane binding and remodeling activities of peripheral membrane proteins. Finally, we will build
fusogenic and switchable nanodiscs to drug membrane proteins with unprecedented specificity and
efficacy. Together, these simple and versatile tools will significantly transform the field of membrane
biochemistry and shed new light on membrane proteins that were previously thought to be
unapproachable or undruggable.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10614886
- **Project number:** 6DP2GM140920-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Huan Bao
- **Activity code:** DP2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,031,163
- **Award type:** 6
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2023-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10614886

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10614886, Developing next-generation nanodiscs for the study and modulation of membrane proteins (6DP2GM140920-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10614886. Licensed CC0.

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