Waiting
Login processing...

Trial ends in Request Full Access Tell Your Colleague About Jove

Biology

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties

Published: November 3, 2008 doi: 10.3791/1032

Summary

Membrane protein function is regulated by the cell membrane lipid composition. This video-article details how to form a patch using bilayer patch electrodes, as well as how to use gramicidin channels as reporters of altered membrane properties.

Abstract

Membrane protein function is regulated by the cell membrane lipid composition. This regulation is due to a combination of specific lipid-protein interactions and more general lipid bilayer-protein interactions. These interactions are particularly important in pharmacological research, as many current pharmaceuticals on the market can alter the lipid bilayer material properties, which can lead to altered membrane protein function. The formation of gramicidin channels are dependent on conformational changes in gramicidin subunits which are in turn dependent on the properties of the lipid. Hence the gramicidin channel current is a reporter of altered properties of the bilayer due to certain compounds.

Protocol

Please visit Springer Protocols for more information about preparing artifical bilayers and using gramicidin channels for probing membrane elasticity.

Disclosures

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Tags

Single Molecule Methods Monitoring Changes Bilayer Elastic Properties Membrane Protein Function Cell Membrane Lipid Composition Lipid-protein Interactions Lipid Bilayer-protein Interactions Pharmacological Research Pharmaceuticals Lipid Bilayer Material Properties Altered Membrane Protein Function Gramicidin Channels Conformational Changes Gramicidin Subunits Properties Of The Lipid Gramicidin Channel Current Reporter Compounds
Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties
Play Video
PDF DOI

Cite this Article

Ingolfson, H., Kapoor, R.,More

Ingolfson, H., Kapoor, R., Collingwood, S. A., Sparre Andersen, O. Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties. J. Vis. Exp. (21), e1032, doi:10.3791/1032 (2008).

Less
Copy Citation Download Citation Reprints and Permissions
View Video

Get cutting-edge science videos from JoVE sent straight to your inbox every month.

Waiting X
Simple Hit Counter