Compared to other classes of proteins, the determination of membrane protein structures has remained a challenge in large part due to the difficulty in establishing experimental conditions where the correct conformation of the protein in isolation from its native environment is preserved.
Dibandingkan dengan kelas protein lainnya, penentuan struktur protein membran tetap menjadi tantangan akibat kesulitan menentukan kondisi eksperimen dengan mempertahankan konformasi protein dalam isolasi dari lingkungan asalnya.