Construct Open Lipid Nano-Membranes with Controllable Lateral Behavior

Understanding the in-membrane behaviors of membrane proteins requires precise control over lipid bilayers, yet such precision remains challenging due to their dynamic and amphiphilic nature. Here, a universal strategy is developed to construct open lipid membranes, which are defined as lipid bilayers confined within open DNA nanobarrels based on DNA origami, exhibiting programmable geometry and lateral fluidity. The open membranes exhibit high stability by optimizing the spatial distribution of the leading cholesterols and the lipid ratio. Through the engineering of complementary DNA interactions and shape-matching features, spatially defined membrane fusion can be achieved. Compared with the traditional closed scaffold systems, this strategy has allowed lipid diffusion across adjacent compartments within the same membrane. Such a membrane fusion process brings membrane-associated model proteins into proximity, thereby enhancing confined enzymatic reactions and benefiting the understanding of the dynamic interaction of the membrane proteins within the lipid bilayer. This platform provides a versatile system for investigating membrane protein organization, interaction dynamics, and functional coordination in controlled lipid contexts.