The Protein Fusion Strategy Facilitates the Structure Determination of Small Membrane Proteins by Cryo-EM

Despite the resolution revolution of cryo-EM, structures of small membrane proteins (<80 kDa) are still understudied. These proteins are notoriously reluctant to structure determination by single-particle cryo-EM. Protein fusion might represent a plausible strategy to overcome such difficulties. This Perspective enumerates recent exemplary progress and discusses the future potential of the protein fusion strategy.

Automated summary

Despite the resolution revolution of cryo-EM, structures of small membrane proteins (<80 kDa) are still understudied. These proteins are notoriously difficult to determine their structures using single-particle cryo-EM. Protein fusion has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome this challenge. This Perspective highlights recent progress and discusses the future potential of the protein fusion strategy.