(449bk) Membrane Protein Insertion and Compatibility with Biomimetic Membranes

Cell membrane matrices are mainly composed of lipids and membrane proteins. Membrane proteins, present in the membrane, performing a vast majority of functions including signal reception¹, material transport and biochemical reactions^2,3 that occur at membrane-liquid interfaces. High compatibility between cell membranes and membrane proteins are necessary for living organisms to conduct complicated tasks and thrive in the nature⁴. Inspired by living cell systems, biomimetic membrane-matrices are developed for mimicking cell membrane matrix functions. Biomimetic membrane matrices are composed of membrane proteins (or membrane protein-mimics) and lipids (or lipid-like block copolymers). Similar to nature cell membrane matrices, only compatible biomimetic membranes specific to different membrane proteins will provide desired membrane performance⁵. Highly compatible biomimetic membranes have high membrane protein (or membrane protein-mimic) reconstitution density without compromising membrane protein (or membrane protein-mimic) single molecule properties. However, there are few accurate methods for compatibility evaluation⁴.

Here, we propose and test methods to evaluate membrane protein and membrane protein-mimic compatibility with biomimetic membranes. We conducted biophysical activity characterization using stopped-flow spectroscopy, membrane protein density determination using Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), and evaluation of the effect of matrix hydrophobicity on protein insertion using a new distyrylbenzene chromophore optical characterization technique. Combined the methods utilized provided single protein activity, and for a first time a quantitative measure of the chemical and physical compatibility between proteins and membranes. Water transport protein (aquaporins, AQPs), rhodopsins, and artificial water channels (specifically peptide-appended pillar[n]arene (PAP) channels) were reconstituted into a range of biomimetic membrane matrices to evaluate the proposed platform. Compatibility measurement results showed that both AQPs and PAP⁸ channels preserve their single molecule water transport rates in different biomimetic membranes while their reconstitution density changes leading to different membrane permeability. We also show that membrane protein reconstitution density correlates with hydrophobicity mismatch between membrane protein and biomimetic membranes: smaller hydrophobicity mismatch between the membrane matrix and the proteins lead to higher membrane protein (or membrane protein-mimic) reconstitution densities.

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