Patent ID: 7575763

Claim:
A nanoscale particle comprising a non-naturally occurring amphipathic membrane scaffold protein and at least one tethered 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 phospholipids or in the presence of a mixture of phospholipids, into a nanoscale particle, wherein said membrane scaffold protein is amphipathic, 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.