Dataset for "Influence of Block Microstructure on the Interaction of Styrene-Maleic Acid Copolymer Aggregates and Lipid Nanodiscs"

Copolymers between styrene and maleic acid are able to extract membrane proteins directly from cells, reconstituting lipid membranes into nanodiscs. RAFT copolymerisation was used to generate copolymers of equivalent molecular mass but inverted block sequences and end group termini. This dataset contains characterisation data for the copolymers (GPC, NMR, FTIR, UV-vis), included deuterated variants for neutron scattering experiments, as well as the structures formed in solution. Aggregates were assed by a combination of DLS and surface tension measurements, and nanodisc formation kinetics through UV-vis using both model DMPC vesicle and E.coli membrane suspensions. It was found that mismatched hydrophilic and hydrophobic end groups on the respective styrene block and alternating block, impeded membrane solubilisation. This highlights not only how the amphiphilic balance of these blocks is important for efficient nanodisc formation, but also how end groups influence these and may be optimised towards the extraction of more challenging MPs.