Setting up a core facility for the production and purification of recombinant membrane proteins as a service to research institutions and industry
Lead Research Organisation:
Aston University
Department Name: Sch of Life and Health Sciences
Abstract
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Publications
Ayub H
(2022)
Membrane Protein Production in the Yeast P. pastoris.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Bill RM
(2018)
Recombinant Membrane Protein Methods.
in Methods (San Diego, Calif.)
Broadbent L
(2022)
Detergent-Free Membrane Protein Purification Using SMA Polymer.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Carlesso A
(2022)
Yeast as a tool for membrane protein production and structure determination.
in FEMS yeast research
Depping P
(2022)
Heterologous Expression of Membrane Proteins in E. coli.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Hawkins OP
(2021)
Membrane protein extraction and purification using partially-esterified SMA polymers.
in Biochimica et biophysica acta. Biomembranes
Unger L
(2021)
Biological insights from SMA-extracted proteins.
in Biochemical Society transactions
Vaitsopoulou A
(2022)
Membrane Protein Production in Insect Cells.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Wiseman DN
(2020)
Expression and purification of recombinant G protein-coupled receptors: A review.
in Protein expression and purification
| Description | We wish to establish a Core Facility or other business model that will meet the commercial needs of university, research institution and company clients who want to access our expertise. Currently, there is no Core Facility in the UK that provides a fee-based service for the entire pipeline of synthesizing, purifying and characterizing recombinant membrane proteins for drug discovery and other biotechnological applications; such a resource would facilitate national and international research in this field. The report this BBSRC Pathfinder, BB/S004696/1, concluded that Follow-on Funding (FoF) to execute two or three case studies would allow us to demonstrate our capabilities at scale and help define our value proposition. We have therefore submitted a FoF proposal such that its outputs will (i) define the parameters of a viable commercial service and (ii) generate a set of non-confidential case studies that we can market on our website to demonstrate our capabilities. We will collaborate with three intersectoral partners, Peak Proteins, Sygnature Discovery and the Medicines Discovery Catapult to deliver these outputs. The case-studies from will be used with the findings of our two recently-awarded business plan development grants (Innovate UK Midlands ICURe and Midlands Innovation MICRA) to establish a viable fee-for-service enterprise at Aston. We are currently awaiting the outcome of our FoF proposal. |
| Exploitation Route | We have used the final report of this grant as a basis for seeking further funding. We have also set up Aston Membrane Proteins Ltd to facilitate this (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/12422528). |
| Sectors | Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | https://www2.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/centres-facilities/molecular-biomedical-research/ampl |
| Description | The findings have been used as the basis of a follow-on funding proposal with three industrial partners. We are awaiting the outcome. We have also been awarded two grants for business development: 1. Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK) Midlands ICURe Cohort D: Mid-D-18; Commercialisation of membrane protein production, 26/09/2019-26/12/2019, £35,000 2. Midlands Innovation MICRA Post Scientific Proof of Concept Development Grant, 01/10/2019-31/03/2020, £24,833 |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | 17-ERACoBioTech - MEmbrane Modulation for BiopRocess enhANcEment - MeMBrane |
| Amount | £632,794 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R02152X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2018 |
| End | 04/2021 |
| Description | COFUND PhD programme, MemTrain |
| Amount | € 1,952,640 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 847419 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 05/2019 |
| End | 04/2024 |
| Description | Commercialisation of membrane protein production |
| Amount | £35,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Midlands ICURe Cohort D: Mid-D- 18 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | Expression of membrane proteins in Clostridia |
| Amount | £213,625 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 12976 |
| Organisation | KT partnership |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2021 |
| End | 09/2023 |
| Description | Post Scientific Proof of Concept Development Grant |
| Amount | £24,833 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MICRA |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Research England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Strategic discussions with Pharmaron |
| Organisation | Pharmaron |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Pharmaron approached the AMPL team to discuss a strategic partnership around membrane protein expression and purification. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Pharmaron reached out to us because of our expertise. |
| Impact | We are currently negotiating a non-disclosure agreement. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Formation of Aston Centre for Membrane Protein & Lipid Research (AMPL) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Aston Centre for Membrane Protein & Lipid Research (AMPL) is a collaborative team of six principal investigators in biochemistry, pharmacology, protein/lipid chemistry and polymer science. We study the structure and function of membrane proteins and associated lipids, using interdisciplinary approaches and our novel technologies. Our aim is to understand the molecular basis of how cells communicate with their environment and each other, facilitating drug discovery for patient benefit and driving advances in industrial biotechnology. Membrane proteins are the targets of 60% of all pharmaceutical drugs including all top 10 selling prescription drugs, as well as targets for breeding drought- and disease-tolerant crops and generating new industrial microorganisms. Our activities to date show our ability and expertise in creating synergistic projects over a range of scales with demonstrable real-world impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://www2.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/centres-facilities/molecular-biomedical-research/ampl |