Synthesis of Extended, Self-Assembled Biological Membranes containing Membrane Proteins from Gas Phase

Abstract

Membrane proteins carry out a wide variety of biological functions. The reproduction of their specific properties in a technically controlled environment is of significant interest. Here, a method is presented that allows the self-assembly of a macroscopically large, freely transportable membrane with Outer membrane porin G from Escherichia Coli. The technique does not use protein specific characteristics and therefore could represent a path to the generation of extended layers of membranes with integrated, arbitrary membrane proteins. The composition of the membrane, its lipid and protein content, is experimentally controlled. Such in-vitro systems are relevant for the study of membrane-protein function and structure and the self-assembly of membrane-based protein complexes. They might become important for the incorporation of lipid-membranes into technical devices.