Efficiency of detergents at maintaining membrane protein structures in their biologically relevant forms

► The choice of detergent for membrane protein characterization is largely empirical. ► TM domain structure may be classified according to local environment. ► The choice of detergent does not affect secondary structure of TM segments. ► Native secondary structure is preserved in detergents. ► Denaturation is largely due to interactions with non-membranous regions of proteins.