title: Vesicle fusion observed by content transfer across a tethered lipid bilayer.
abstract: Synaptic transmission is achieved by exocytosis of small, synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters across the plasma membrane. Here, we use a DNA-tethered freestanding bilayer as a target architecture that allows observation of content transfer of individual vesicles across the tethered planar bilayer. Tethering and fusion are mediated by hybridization of complementary DNA-lipid conjugates inserted into the two membranes, and content transfer is monitored by the dequenching of an aqueous content dye. By analyzing the diffusion profile of the aqueous dye after vesicle fusion, we are able to distinguish content transfer across the tethered bilayer patch from vesicle leakage above the patch.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Rawle
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: van Lengerich
authors: Minsub
authors: M
authors: Chung
authors: Poul Martin
authors: PM
authors: Bendix
authors: Steven G
authors: SG
authors: Boxer
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism*; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; D014867:Water