"Reaction, Interactions, and Dynamics in Biological Membranes: Vesicles to Brains"
Steven Boxer, Stanford University
Abstract:
Our lab has developed a wide range of methods for patterning lipid
bilayers on solid supports. These 2D fluids are interesting as a model
for biological membranes, as a physical system with unusual properties,
and as a step towards the creation of controlled interfaces between
biological and non-biological surfaces. Methods have been developed for
controlling the composition of patterned membrane corrals by variations
on microcontact printing and microfluidics. Charged components can be
moved around within these fluid surfaces by a form of 2D
electrophoresis. Although this is a model membrane system, it provides
an excellent platform for the development of advanced imaging and
analysis methods, and components displayed in the supported bilayer
model membrane can interact with and affect the function of native cell
membranes.
Fluid planar lipid bilayers can be used as a platform
to tether small vesicles by short complimentary DNA sequences added as
lipid head groups. Once tethered, vesicles are laterally mobile in the
plane of the supported bilayer, so individual vesicle-vesicle
interactions, including vesicle fusion, mediated by different components
on the vesicle surface or in solution, can be observed directly.
Because this is a completely synthetic system and the DNA sequence,
length, spacer length and the nature of the membrane anchors can be
controlled, this is an attractive system for systematic investigation of
the requirements for vesicle docking and fusion. The planar geometry
of the supported bilayer and tethered membranes are well suited for
surface sensitive imaging methods including interferometry and imaging
mass spectrometry. The synthetic DNA-based membrane fusion machinery
can also be use for programmed transfer of dye-labeled lipids to cells
in complex tissues such as fixed brain slices for staining individual
neurons.
Hosted by Ruben Gonzalez
Meet the Speaker at 1:30pm in The Miller Seminar Room, 328 Havemeyer
Tea & Cookies at 4:00pm in The Miller Seminar Room, 328 Havemeyer
Seminar at 4:30 in The Brian Bent Memorial Lecture Hall, Room 209 Havemeyer
More information can be found here: http://www.stanford.edu/group/boxer/res_overview.html
