Fluorescence correlation studies of lipid domains in model membranes (Review)

Authors: Kahya, Nicoletta; Schwille, Petra

Source: Molecular Membrane Biology, Volume 23, Number 1, January–February 2006 , pp. 29-39(11)

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Abstract:

Advances in optical microscopy techniques and single-molecule detection have paved the way to exploring new approaches for investigating membrane dynamics and organization, thereby revealing details on the processing of signals, complex association/dissociation, chemical reactions and transport at and around the membrane. These events rely on a tight regulation of lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions in space and time. Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) provides exquisite sensitivity in measuring local concentrations, association/dissociation constants, chemical rate constants and, in general, in probing the chemical environment of the species of interest and its interactions with potential partners. Here, we review some applications of FCS to lipid and protein organization in biomimetic membranes with lateral heterogeneities, which share some physico-chemical properties with cellular rafts. What we learn from investigations of lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions in simple model membranes can be regarded as an essential basic lecture for studies in more complex cellular membranes.

Keywords: FCS; confocal fluorescence microscopy; giant unilamellar vesicles; lipid rafts; cholesterol; phosphatidylcholine; sphingomyelin

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09687860500489099

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Biophysics, Biotechnology Center, Dresden University of Technology, Tatzberg, Dresden, Germany

Publication date: 2006-01-01

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