Dynamics of Membrane Proteins within Synthetic Polymer Membranes with Large Hydrophobic Mismatch

The functioning of biological membrane proteins (MPs) within synthetic block copolymer membranes is an intriguing phenomenon that is believed to offer great potential for applications in life and medical sciences and engineering. The question why biological MPs are able to function in this completel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nano letters 2015-06, Vol.15 (6), p.3871-3878
Main Authors: Itel, Fabian, Najer, Adrian, Palivan, Cornelia G, Meier, Wolfgang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dimethylpolysiloxanes - chemistry
Membrane Fluidity
Membrane Proteins - chemistry
Membranes, Artificial
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Summary:The functioning of biological membrane proteins (MPs) within synthetic block copolymer membranes is an intriguing phenomenon that is believed to offer great potential for applications in life and medical sciences and engineering. The question why biological MPs are able to function in this completely artificial environment is still unresolved by any experimental data. Here, we have analyzed the lateral diffusion properties of different sized MPs within poly­(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-containing amphiphilic block copolymer membranes of membrane thicknesses between 9 and 13 nm, which results in a hydrophobic mismatch between the membrane thickness and the size of the proteins of 3.3–7.1 nm (3.5–5 times). We show that the high flexibility of PDMS, which provides membrane fluidities similar to phospholipid bilayers, is the key-factor for MP incorporation.
ISSN:1530-6984
1530-6992
DOI:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b00699