Patent ID: 7662410

Claim:
A nanoscale particle comprising an artificial membrane scaffold protein and at least one embedded membrane protein, and further comprising a phospholipid or a mixture of phospholipids, wherein said nanoscale particle has a diameter between 5 nm and 500 nm, wherein said artificial membrane scaffold protein, in an aqueous environment, self-assembles in the presence of a phospholipid or in the presence of a mixture of phospholipids, into a nanoscale particle between about 5 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, wherein said membrane scaffold protein is amphipathic and wherein said membrane scaffold protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:17, amino acids 13 to 414 of SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, amino acids 13 to 422 of SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:23, amino acids 13 to 168 of SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:29, amino acids 13 to 169 of SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:43, amino acids 13 to 201 of SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, amino acids 13 to 201 of SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:45, and amino acids 13 to 392 of SEQ ID NO:45.