title: Dynamic and reversible control of 2D membrane protein concentration in a droplet interface bilayer.
abstract: We form an artificial lipid bilayer between a nanolitre aqueous droplet and a supporting hydrogel immersed in an oil/lipid solution. Manipulation of the axial position of the droplet relative to the hydrogel controls the size of the bilayer formed at the interface; this enables the surface density of integral membrane proteins to be controlled. We are able to modulate the surface density of the β-barrel pore-forming toxin α-hemolysin over a range of 4 orders of magnitude within a time frame of a few seconds. The concentration changes are fully reversible. Membrane protein function and diffusion are unaltered, as measured by single molecule microscopy and single channel electrical recording.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA, Oxford, U.K.
authors: Linda C M
authors: LC
authors: Gross
authors: Oliver K
authors: OK
authors: Castell
authors: Mark I
authors: MI
authors: Wallace
mesh_terms: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008565:Membrane Proteins