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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Method to Visualize and Analyze Membrane Interacting Proteins by Transmission Electron Microscopy
Published on: March 5, 2017
Cytochrome c interaction with neutral lipid membranes: influence of lipid packing and protein charges
Karim El Kirat1, Sandrine Morandat
1Université de Technologie de Compiègne - CNRS UMR 6600 Laboratoire de Biomécanique et Bioingénierie, BP 20529, 60205 Compiègne Cedex, France.
Abstract:
The interaction of cytochrome c (cyt c) with fluid/gel neutral supported lipid membranes was investigated by time-lapse atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM revealed the random formation of depressed areas in fluid membranes promoted by cyt c. These depressions corresponded to the desorption of fluid bilayer patches induced by cyt c. By contrast, the gel domains were never desorbed but they were progressively thickened in the presence of the protein. These results suggest that cyt c molecules might intercalate between the mica and the lipid bilayer. Although the interaction of cyt c with the mica surface is likely to be an artifact, this work is the first direct observation of cyt c ability to cross membranes. Furthermore, our data show that the net positive charge of cyt c molecules plays a pivotal role but it is not the sole factor responsible for cyt c insertion in the membrane.
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