Study of bilayer edge conformation with model membrane systems

COLL 326

Andreia M. Smith, amismith@ucdavis.edu, Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California Davis, One Shield Ave, Davis, CA 95616 and Atul N. Parikh, anparikh@ucdavis.edu, Applied Science, University of California, Davis, 3001 Engineering III, Davis, CA 95616.
Carbocyanine membranes probes represent a class of phase sensitive amphiphilic fluorescent probes. Their differential partitioning characteristics have been broadly employed in characterizing co-existing phases and determining the spatial distributions of “gel” or liquid-ordered phases in cellular and membrane-mimetic systems. Here, we employ the preferential partitioning of DiI as a means to investigate the structure of the membrane edge. Incorporating DiI doped lipids onto patterned hydrophobic/hydrophilic surfaces create multiple monolayer and bilayer edges that can be easily studied by fluorescent microscopy. We prepared temperature-dependent migration characteristics of DiI to confirm the gel-like character of the edge, and its higher melting temperature.
 

Chemistry at Membrane Interfaces
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 104, Poster

Division of Colloid & Surface Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006