EXTRACTION OF MEMBRANE DOMAIN SIZE FROM TIME-RESOLVED FRET DATA

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 我们在RLBL的努力目标是完成一个原理验证实验的基础上，我们开发的理论模型，以表征流体双层内的纳米级异质性（域）。 简而言之，实验由对小单层囊泡的悬浮液的时间相关单光子计数（TCSPC）实验组成。 这些囊泡，由不同比例的DMPC/胆固醇，建议是在一个两相共存制度。 然而，到目前为止，其他技术，如荧光显微镜表明，如果存在共存，它必须在一个规模低于光学极限。 我们的理论利用时间分辨的数据，在这些系统中，包含两个荧光团标记的脂质探针进行共振能量转移内的双层几何形状。 用我们的模型拟合数据应该会得到双层内任何结构域的特征尺寸的信息。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Our goal for our efforts at the RLBL is to complete a proof-of-principle experiment based on a theoretical model we developed to characterize nanoscale heterogeneity (domains) within fluid bilayers. Briefly, the experiments consist of time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) experiments on a suspension of small unilamellar vesicles. These vesicles, composed of various ratios of DMPC/cholesterol, are proposed to be in a two-phase coexistence regime. However, to date, other techniques such as fluorescence microscopy indicate that if there is coexistence, it must be on a scale below the optical limit. Our theory utilizes time-resolved data in these systems that contain two fluorophore-labeled lipid probes undergoing resonance energy transfer within the bilayer geometry. Fitting the data with our model should yield information about the characteristic size of any domains within the bilayer.