Pattern formation and molecular transport of histidine-tagged GFPs using supported lipid bilayers

We fabricated a heterogeneous supported lipid bilayer (SLB) by employing binary lipid mixtures comprising a saturated acyl chain DSPC and an unsaturated acyl chain nickel-chelating lipid. By using the specific adsorption properties of histidine-tagged proteins (His-tagged GFPs) in relation to nickel-chelating lipids, we demonstrated protein pattern formation on the SLB corresponding to the phase separation pattern of the SLB. In addition, by using a lipid mixture consisting of an unsaturated acyl chain DOPC and a nickel-chelating lipid, and His-tagged GFPs, we succeeded in transporting the proteins along a hydrophilic micropattern on a SiO(2) substrate. The protein transport is induced by the self-spreading behavior of a fluid SLB with a kinetic spreading coefficient beta = 10.4 microm(2) s(-1). This method provides a guide for strategically carrying various biomolecules to specific positions by using a soft biointerface on a solid surface. In addition, the results demonstrate the importance of using techniques that allow the controlled manipulation of biomolecules based on the static or dynamic properties of the SLB platform.