Lipid and Protein Transfer between Nanolipoprotein Particles and Supported Lipid Bilayers.

A nanolipoprotein particle (NLP) is a lipid bilayer disc stabilized by two amphipathic "scaffold" apolipoproteins. It has been most notably utilized as a tool for solubilizing a variety of membrane proteins while preserving structural and functional properties. Transfer of functional proteins from NLPs into model membrane systems such as supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) would enable new opportunities, for example, two-dimensional protein crystallization and studies on protein-protein interactions.

Cell-Free Co-Translational Approaches for Producing Mammalian Receptors: Expanding the Cell-Free Expression Toolbox Using Nanolipoproteins.

Membranes proteins make up more than 60% of current drug targets and account for approximately 30% or more of the cellular proteome. Access to this important class of proteins has been difficult due to their inherent insolubility and tendency to aggregate in aqueous solutions. Understanding membrane protein structure and function demands novel means of membrane protein production that preserve both their native conformational state as well as function.

Mechanism of Acid-Triggered Cargo Release from Lipid Bilayer-Coated Mesoporous Silica Particles.

Lipid bilayer-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles are unique core-shell nanomaterials currently being developed as drug delivery vehicles. To improve cargo loading and biocirculation, the pore structure and surface chemistry of the particle have been modified and well characterized. However, an understanding of cargo release mechanisms from cellular uptake pathways remains largely unexplored.

Preparation and Characterization of Solid-Supported Lipid Bilayers Formed by Langmuir-Blodgett Deposition: A Tutorial.

The structure, phase behavior, and properties of cellular membranes are derived from their composition, which includes phospholipids, sphingolipids, sterols, and proteins with various levels of glycosylation. Because of the intricate nature of cellular membranes, a plethora of in vitro studies have been carried out with model membrane systems that capture particular properties such as fluidity, permeability, and protein binding but vastly simplify the membrane composition in order to focus in detail on a specialized property or function. Supported lipid bilayers (SLB) are widely used as archetypes for cellular membranes, and this instructional review primarily focuses on the preparation and characterization of SLB systems formed by Langmuir deposition methods.