The microbiome-derived antibacterial lugdunin acts as a cation ionophore in synergy with host peptides.

Unlabelled: Lugdunin is a microbiome-derived antibacterial agent with good activity against Gram-positive pathogens and in animal models of nose colonization and skin infection. We have previously shown that lugdunin depletes bacterial energy resources by dissipating the membrane potential of . Here, we explored the mechanism of action of lugdunin in more detail and show that lugdunin quickly depolarizes cytoplasmic membranes of different bacterial species and acidifies the cytoplasm of within minutes due to protonophore activity.

Assessing the mechanism of facilitated proton transport across GUVs trapped in a microfluidic device.

Proton transport across lipid membranes is one of the most fundamental reactions that make up living organisms. In vitro, however, the study of proton transport reactions can be very challenging due to limitations imposed by proton concentrations, compartment size, and unstirred layers as well as buffer exchange and buffer capacity. In this study, we have developed a proton permeation assay based on the microfluidic trapping of giant vesicles enclosing the pH-sensitive dye pyranine to address some of these challenges.

Pore-spanning membranes as a tool to investigate lateral lipid membrane heterogeneity.

Over the years, it has become more and more obvious that lipid membranes show a very complex behavior. This behavior arises in part from the large number of different kinds of lipids and proteins and how they dynamically interact with each other. In vitro studies using artificial membrane systems have shed light on the heterogeneity based on lipid-lipid interactions in multicomponent bilayer mixtures.

Ca1.3 channel clusters characterized by live-cell and isolated plasma membrane nanoscopy.

A key player of excitable cells in the heart and brain is the L-type calcium channel Ca1.3. In the heart, it is required for voltage-dependent Ca-signaling, i.