Engineering molecular membrane pores

Solid state NMR mini-project: The objective is to give in a nutshell a flavour of the continuity in biological research from protein expression and purification, sample preparation through biophysical analysis and characterisation. Week 1-2: Recombinant protein will be overexpressed, purified and characterised with and without NMR labels; Week 3-4: Model membranes with reconstituted protein will be prepared and converted into oriented bilayer fragments, bicelles. The lipid membranes will be studied by solid state NMR to obtain a 15N spectrum form the protein. Week 5-6: Spectral simulations will be carried out to simulate the protein orientation in bicelles and these will be compared to experimental spectra to assess protein orientation.