Lipid domain formation and ligand–receptor distribution in lipid bilayer membranes investigated by atomic force microscopy

摘要: A novel experimental technique, based on atomic force microscopy (AFM), is proposed to visualize the lateral organization of membrane systems in nanometer range. The technique involves use a ligand–receptor pair, biotin–avidin, which introduces height variation solid-supported lipid bilayer membrane. This leads amplification that large enough be clearly imaged by scanning AFM. power demonstrated for binary dipalmitoylphosphocholine–diarachidoylphosphocholine mixture shown exhibit distinct domain formation. new and simple ligand–receptor-based AFM approach opens up ways investigate microstructure range as well distribution ligand–lipid receptor–protein complexes supported systems.