Frank Bernhard’s Cell-Free Workflow for Cryo-EM–Ready Membrane Protein Complexes

Membrane proteins are central to signalling and transport, yet they remain some of the most challenging targets for structural and functional studies. In this Nuclera-hosted webinar, world-leading membrane protein expert Dr Frank Bernhard (Goethe University Frankfurt) will present a powerful cell-free E. coli lysate workflow for producing high-quality membrane protein complexes ready for advanced structural biology.

Dr Bernhard will show how nascent membrane proteins can be inserted co-translationally into tailored nanoparticle and lipid environments, bypassing the limitations of conventional cell-based expression, detergent extraction, and complex translocation machinery. He will walk through key elements of the workflow, including tuned lysates, DNA template design, and nanoparticle-based size exclusion (NSEC) quality control, and illustrate the approach with cryo-EM structures of full-length GPCR/G protein complexes and other challenging membrane proteins.

You’ll also see how a nanotransfer technique enables these cell-free generated GPCRs to be reinserted into living cell membranes, providing a direct bridge between in vitro structural insights and in vivo functional validation. The session is ideal for structural biologists, membrane protein researchers, and drug discovery teams looking to unlock difficult targets and accelerate high-value projects.