Experimental platform for the functional investigation of membrane proteins in giant unilamellar vesicles.

ABSTRACT: Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are micrometer-sized model membrane systems that can be viewed directly under the microscope. They serve as scaffolds for the bottom-up creation of synthetic cells, targeted drug delivery and have been widely used to study membrane related phenomena in vitro. GUVs are also of interest for the functional investigation of membrane proteins that carry out many key cellular functions. A major hurdle to a wider application of GUVs in this field is the diversity of existing protocols that are optimized for individual proteins. Here, we compare PVA assisted and electroformation techniques for GUV formation under physiologically relevant conditions, and analyze the effect of immobilization on vesicle structure and membrane tightness towards small substrates

SUBMITTER: Dolder N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9364335 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature