Single Molecules as Probes of Lipid Membrane Microenvironments

该研究项目在分析和表面化学计划的支持下，使用近场和远场显微镜方法，再加上单分子光谱学，以量化膜系统中探针分子光谱学中单分子波动的环境起源。 在一系列高度有序和良好的特点脂质单层和双层的单分子发射波动的系统研究被用来开发一套单分子探针，用于获得膜系统的结构信息。 堪萨斯大学的罗伯特·邓恩教授和他的合作者正在开发这种方法，以提供关于含有胆固醇和肺表面活性蛋白的膜系统的信息。 为了了解细胞膜和相关生物系统的功能，必须在膜运行的环境中获得详细的结构信息。 通过将近场和远场显微镜方法与探针分子发射波动的研究相结合，堪萨斯大学的邓恩教授和他的同事正在开发可以提供这种信息的结构探针。 一系列高度有序的模型膜中的探针分子波动的系统调查是用来开发这种探测方法。

This research project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, uses near and far field microscopic methods, coupled with single molecule spectrosocpy, to quantify the environmental origin of single molecule fluctuations in the spectroscopy of probe molecules in membrane systems. Systematic studies of single molecule emission fluctuations in a series of highly ordered and well characterized lipid monolayers and bilayers are used to develop a set of single molecule probes that are used to obtain structural information about membrane systems. Professor Robert Dunn and his collaborators at the University of Kansas are developing this approach to provide information about membrane systems containing cholesterol and lung surfactant proteins. In order to understand the functioning of cell membranes and related biological systems, detailed structural information must be obtained in the environment in which the membrane operates. By coupling near and far-field microscopic methods with studies of probe molecule emission fluctuations, Professor Dunn and his coworkers at the University of Kansas are developing structural probes that can provide this information. A systematic investigation of probe molecule fluctuations in a series of highly ordered model membranes is used to develop this probe methodology.