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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Single-Molecule Diffusion and Assembly on Polymer-Crowded Lipid Membranes
Published on: July 19, 2022
Control of frictional coupling of transmembrane cell receptors in model cell membranes with linear polymer spacers
Oliver Purrucker1, Anton Förtig, Rainer Jordan
1Lehrstuhl für Biophysik E22, Technische Universität München, D85748 Garching, Germany.
Abstract:
The planar plasma membrane model with linear polymer spacers with defined lengths enables the control of the frictional coupling between incorporated transmembrane proteins (human platelet integrin) and the solid substrate. This mimics the viscous environment provided by the extracellular matrix of cells. The friction coefficient can be calculated quantitatively from the diffusion coefficient of integrin, measured by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. The obtained results demonstrate a clear influence of the length and lateral density of polymer chains on the mobility of transmembrane proteins.
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