MscL was first discovered on the surface of giant Escherichia coli spheroplasts using patch-clamp technique. Subsequently, the Escherichia coli MscL (Ec-MscL) gene was cloned in 1994. Following the cloning of MscL, the crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis MscL (Tb-MscL), was obtained in its closed conformation. In addition, the crystal structure of Staphylococcus aureus MscL (Sa-MscL) and Ec-MscL have been determined using X-ray crystallography and molecular model respectively. However, some evidence suggests that the Sa-MscL structure is not physiological, and is due to the detergent used in crystallization.
