Study of molecular mechanisms of structural change of prestin using a novel atomic force microscope combined with a patch clamp system

研制了一种膜电位控制装置。利用该装置研究了表达prestin的培养细胞的微观结构和电生理特性。一个细胞被成功地定位在该装置的微孔上（直径约2微米），细胞表面的微观结构被可视化。此外，在微孔上创建了人工脂质双分子层，从而形成了千兆赫的密封。这些结果表明，使用该装置可以可视化脂质双分子层中重组的蛋白质。在这些发现的基础上，将进行进一步的研究来可视化普司汀的构象变化。

A cell membrane potential control device was developed. Using this device, the microstructure and electrophysiological properties of prestin-expressing culture cells were investigated. A cell was successfully positioned on a micropore of the device (about 2 um in diameter) and the microstructure of the cell surface was visualized. In addition, an artificial lipid bilayer was created on the micropore, resulting in the formation of a gigaohm seal. These results suggest that it may be possible to visualize protein reconstituted in the lipid bilayer by using this device. Based on these findings, further research to visualize the conformational change of prestin will be performed.