Model membrane platforms to study protein-membrane interactions

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Constituting functional interactions between proteins and lipid membranes is one of the essential features of cellular membranes. The major challenge of quantitatively studying these interactions in living cells is the multitude of involved components that are difficult, if not impossible, to simultaneously control. Therefore, there is great need for simplified but still sufficiently detailed model systems to investigate the key constituents of biological processes. To specifically focus on interactions between membrane proteins and lipids, several membrane models have been introduced which recapitulate to varying degrees the complexity and physicochemical nature of biological membranes. Here, we summarize the presently most widely used minimal model membrane systems, namely Supported Lipid Bilayers (SLBs), Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) and Giant Plasma Membrane Vesicles (GPMVs) and their applications for protein-membrane interactions.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)144-154
Number of pages11
Journal Molecular membrane biology : MMB
Volume29
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2012
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 22831167

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Membrane lipid, Membrane model, Membrane protein