Regulation of Protein Function by Membrane Elastic Properties

Abstract

Integral membrane proteins are regulated by changes in the host bilayer lipid composition. We show how it is possible to get mechanistic insights in this type of regulation using proteins and other bilayer inclusions embedded in biomimetic membranes. Taking advantage of the simplicity that is conferred by studying ion channels embedded in planar lipid bilayers, one can show how membrane proteins are functionally regulated by the elastic properties of the host membranes’ lipid bilayer. The chapter provides an introduction to the regulation of membrane protein function by the bilayer elastic properties, as given by the bilayer thickness, elastic moduli and monolayer intrinsic curvature. The use of gramicidin channels as molecular force as probes to study this type of regulation is described.