Protein patterns at lipid bilayer junctions.

ABSTRACT: We introduce a simple intermembrane junction system in which to explore pattern and structure formation by membrane-bound proteins. The junction consists of a planar lipid bilayer to which one species of protein (an IgG antibody) is bound, forming a 2D, compressible fluid. Upon the adhesion of a second lipid bilayer, the formerly uniformly distributed proteins rapidly reorganize into patterns of dense and sparse zones. Using a combination of complementary imaging techniques (fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence interference contrast microscopy, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer), we reconstruct the 3D structure of these intermembrane patterns with nanometer-scale topographic resolution, revealing the orientation of the proteins. The patterns form as the rapid bilayer-bilayer adhe

SUBMITTER: Parthasarathy R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC516475 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature