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

研制了一种细胞膜电位控制装置。利用该装置对表达Prestin的培养细胞的微观结构和电生理特性进行了研究。成功地将细胞定位在器件的微孔(直径约2微米)上，并对细胞表面的微结构进行了可视化。此外，在微孔上创建了人工脂质双层，从而形成了千兆欧密封。这些结果表明，使用该设备有可能可视化在脂质双层中重组的蛋白质。基于这些发现，将进行进一步的研究以可视化prestin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.