Label-Free Quantification of Small-Molecule Binding to Membrane Proteins on Single Cells by Tracking Nanometer-Scale Cellular Membrane Deformation.

ABSTRACT: Measuring molecular binding to membrane proteins is critical for understanding cellular functions, validating biomarkers, and screening drugs. Despite the importance, developing such a capability has been a difficult challenge, especially for small-molecule binding to membrane proteins in their native cellular environment. Here we show that the binding of both large and small molecules to membrane proteins can be quantified on single cells by trapping single cells with a microfluidic device and detecting binding-induced cellular membrane deformation on the nanometer scale with label-free optical imaging. We develop a thermodynamic model to describe the binding-induced membrane deformation, validate the model by examining the dependence of membrane deformation on cell stiffness, membrane pr

SUBMITTER: Zhang F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5851003 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature