title: Dynamics of Membrane Proteins within Synthetic Polymer Membranes with Large Hydrophobic Mismatch.
abstract: The functioning of biological membrane proteins (MPs) within synthetic block copolymer membranes is an intriguing phenomenon that is believed to offer great potential for applications in life and medical sciences and engineering. The question why biological MPs are able to function in this completely artificial environment is still unresolved by any experimental data. Here, we have analyzed the lateral diffusion properties of different sized MPs within poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-containing amphiphilic block copolymer membranes of membrane thicknesses between 9 and 13 nm, which results in a hydrophobic mismatch between the membrane thickness and the size of the proteins of 3.3-7.1 nm (3.5-5 times). We show that the high flexibility of PDMS, which provides membrane fluidities similar to phospholipid bilayers, is the key-factor for MP incorporation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Itel
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Najer
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Cornelia G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Palivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meier
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C013830:baysilon
keywords: Membrane proteins; amphiphilic block copolymers; fluorescence correlation spectroscopy; hydrophobic mismatch; lateral diffusion; synthetic membranes