Large-scale expression and purification of a G-protein-coupled receptor for structure determination -- an overview.

Structure determination of G-protein-coupled receptors and other applications, such as nuclear magnetic resonance studies, require milligram quantities of purified, functional receptor protein on a regular basis. We present an overview on expression and purification studies with a receptor for neurotensin. Functional expression in Escherichia coli and an automated two-column purification routine allow ongoing crystallization experiments and studies on receptor-bound ligands.