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Reconstitution of a Kv Channel into Lipid Membranes for Structural and Functional Studies
Published on: July 13, 2013
Functional reconstitution of protein ion channels into planar polymerizable phospholipid membranes
Devanand K Shenoy1, William R Barger, Alok Singh
1Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA. dshenoy@cbmse.nrl.navy.mil
Abstract:
We demonstrate that polymerizable planar membranes permit reconstitution of protein ion channels formed by the bacterial toxins Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin (alphaHL) and Bacillus anthracis protective antigen 63. The alphaHL channel remained functional even after membrane polymerization. Surface pressure measurements suggest that the ease of forming membranes depends on membrane surface elasticity estimated from Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer pressure-area isotherms. The ability to stabilize nanoscale pores in robust ultrathin films may prove useful in single molecule sensing applications.
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