title: Synthesis, lipid membrane incorporation, and ion permeability testing of carbon nanotube porins.
abstract: Carbon nanotube porins (CNTPs) are 10- to 20-nm-long segments of lipid-stabilized single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that can be inserted into phospholipid membranes to form nanometer-scale-diameter pores that approximate the geometry and many key transport characteristics of biological membrane channels. We describe protocols for CNTP synthesis by ultrasound-assisted cutting of long CNTs in the presence of lipid amphiphiles, and for validation of CNTP incorporation into a lipid membrane using a proton permeability assay. In addition, we describe protocols for measuring conductance of individual CNTPs in planar lipid bilayers and plasma membranes of live cells. The protocol for the preparation and testing of the CNTPs in vesicle systems takes 3 d, and single CNTP conductance measurements take 2-5 h. The CNTPs produced by this cutting protocol remain stable and active for at least 10-12 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physics and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA.
authors.forename: Ramya H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Tunuguntla
authors.affiliation: Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escalada
authors.affiliation: Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.|Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.|Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: A Frolov
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physics and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA.|School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, California, USA.
authors.forename: Aleksandr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noy