Triton X-100 as the "short-chain lipid" improves the magnetic alignment and stability of membrane proteins in phosphatidylcholine bilayers for oriented-sample solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

A mixture of phospholipids and Triton X-100 in a molar ratio of 5:1 forms well-aligned and stable bilayers that give superior solid-state NMR spectra of proteins. In a comparison, the oriented-sample (OS) solid-state NMR spectrum of Pf1 coat protein in aligned phospholipid bilayers displayed better resolution than the equivalent solution NMR spectrum of the same protein in micelles. Both samples and experimental parameters were fully optimized.