EXTRACTION OF MEMBRANE DOMAIN SIZE FROM TIME-RESOLVED FRET DATA

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 我们在RLBL的工作目标是完成一项基于我们开发的理论模型的原则证明实验，该模型用于表征流体双层中的纳米尺度异质性(区域)。简而言之，这些实验包括对小单层囊泡悬浮液的时间相关单光子计数(TCSPC)实验。这些囊泡由不同比例的DMPC/胆固醇组成，被认为处于两相共存状态。然而，到目前为止，荧光显微镜等其他技术表明，如果存在共存，它的规模必须低于光学极限。我们的理论利用了这些系统中的时间分辨数据，这些系统包含两个荧光团标记的脂类探针，它们在双层几何结构中进行共振能量转移。用我们的模型拟合数据应该会得到关于双层内任何区域的特征大小的信息。

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.