Surface supported bilayer platform for studies of lateral association of proteins in membranes (Mini Review).
Here, the authors review how surface supported bilayers can be engineered and how Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) can be used to quantify interactions between transmembrane peptides in these bilayers. The requirements for the surface supported platform are (1) lateral mobility of the peptides, (2) transmembrane orientation of the peptides, and (3) capabilities for FRET measurements. To satisfy these requirements, a new assembly method, termed "directed assembly" was developed. This assembly method could have broad utility in basic studies of proteins in membranes and in biotechnological applications.
Merzlyakov
Mikhail
M
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
Li
Edwin
E
Hristova
Kalina
K