Supported Cell Membranes: The next level in model membrane systems

所有活着的细胞都被一层薄膜包围着，该薄膜将这些细胞的内部与周围隔开。这些薄的膜含有许多蛋白质，可以通过膜运输特定的化合物，如营养物质和盐。其中一些蛋白质利用电子转移释放的能量，主动地在膜上运输质子。因此，许多化合物在膜的内部和外部的浓度是不同的。这些梯度在生物学中起着至关重要的作用，细胞中的许多反应都依赖于它。当我们研究通常位于膜中的蛋白质的结构和功能时，我们经常在不同于膜的环境中研究它们。在这项提议中，我们的目标是开发一种新的工具，允许研究自然环境中的膜蛋白。为了实现这一点，我们将把完整的薄膜放置在一个特殊设计的表面上，该表面与薄膜相互作用。然后，这些表面可以“询问”参与带电物种(盐)或电子的跨膜运输的膜蛋白。通过研究这些蛋白质，我们将更多地了解它们如何在其天然细胞膜内发挥作用。另一个重要的好处是，膜蛋白不需要提纯，但可以使用总的膜提取物。这使得实验系统相对容易准备，因此可以集成到诸如芯片实验室之类的设备中。

All living cells are surrounded by a thin membrane that shields and separates the inside of these cells from their surroundings. These thin membranes contain many proteins that transport specific compounds, like nutrients and salt, across the membrane. Some of these proteins actively transport protons across the membrane using the energy that is released from electron transfers. Consequently, the concentration of many compounds is different on the inside of the membrane compared to the outside. These gradients play a crucial role in biology and many reactions in the cell are dependent on it. When we study the structure and function of protein normally located in membranes we often study them in an environment that is different from the membrane. In this proposal we aim to develop a new tool that allows the study of membrane proteins in their natural environment. For this to be achieved, we will place the complete membrane on a specially designed surface that interacts with the membrane. These surfaces can then 'interrogate' the membrane proteins that are involved in the transmembrane transport of charged species (salt) or electrons. By studying these proteins we will learn more about how they function inside their natural membrane. Another important benefit is that the membrane proteins do not need to be purified, but that total membrane extracts can be used. This makes the experimental system relatively easy to prepare and therefore allows intergration in devices such as 'lab-on-chip'.