Probing Peptide and Protein Insertion in a Biomimetic S-Layer Supported Lipid Membrane Platform

Abstract

The most important aspect of synthetic lipid membrane architectures is their ability to study functional membrane-active peptides and membrane proteins in an environment close to nature. Here, we report on the generation and performance of a biomimetic platform, the S-layer supported lipid membrane (SsLM), to investigate the structural and electrical characteristics of the membrane-active peptide gramicidin and the transmembrane protein α-hemolysin in real-time using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring in combination with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A shift in membrane resistance is caused by the interaction of α-hemolysin and gramicidin with SsLMs, even if only an attachment onto, or functional channels through the lipid membrane, respectively, are formed. Moreover, the obtained results did not indicate the formation of functional α-hemolysin pores, but evidence for functional incorporation of gramicidin into this biomimetic architecture is provided.

<p>Slp-coated liposomes for drug delivery and biomedical applications: potential and challenges</p>

“…Damiati et al used this method to prepare biomimetic membranes and then investigated the electrical and structural properties of gramicidin (a membrane-active peptide) and α-hemolysin (a transmembrane protein). 154 Thus, Slp-coated liposomes have shown promising potential in some biomedical engineering fields, including imaging technology, catalytic chemistry, and biomedical investigation. Although some encouraging progress has been made, developing appropriate biomedical applications of Slp-coated liposomes still requires further research.…”

Formation and characteristics of mixed lipid/polymer membranes on a crystalline surface-layer protein lattice

“… 22 , 23 Most importantly, the S-layer protein (SLP) lattice as a tethering and anchoring structure in-between the solid support and the lipid membrane significantly improves the integrity of the latter and its functioning as reconstitution matrix for integral membrane proteins. 6 , 24 – 27 …”

Biochip for the Detection of Bacillus anthracis Lethal Factor and Therapeutic Agents against Anthrax Toxins

“…Because the membrane is adsorbed directly onto the substrate, this technique generally only accommodates proteins that do not fully span the bilayer. The use of cytoskeletal s-layer proteins, in place of silica as the support, increases the SBM stability [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. However, to date, SBMs with protein supports have only been able to accommodate small membrane proteins (i.e., gramicidin has been shown to insert, but alpha-hemolysin does not) for biosensing applications [ 10 ].…”