Vesicle Fusion Observed by Content Transfer across a Tethered Lipid Bilayer

TY - JOUR

T1 - Vesicle Fusion Observed by Content Transfer across a Tethered Lipid Bilayer

AU - Rawle, Bob

AU - Lengerich, Bettina

AU - Cheung, Minsub

AU - Bendix, Pól Martin

AU - Boxer, Steven

PY - 2011/10/19

Y1 - 2011/10/19

N2 - Synaptic transmission is achieved by exocytosis of small, synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters across the plasma membrane. Here, we use a DNA-tethered freestanding bilayer as a target architecture that allows observation of content transfer of individual vesicles across the tethered planar bilayer. Tethering and fusion are mediated by hybridization of complementary DNA-lipid conjugates inserted into the two membranes, and content transfer is monitored by the dequenching of an aqueous content dye. By analyzing the diffusion profile of the aqueous dye after vesicle fusion, we are able to distinguish content transfer across the tethered bilayer patch from vesicle leakage above the patch.

AB - Synaptic transmission is achieved by exocytosis of small, synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters across the plasma membrane. Here, we use a DNA-tethered freestanding bilayer as a target architecture that allows observation of content transfer of individual vesicles across the tethered planar bilayer. Tethering and fusion are mediated by hybridization of complementary DNA-lipid conjugates inserted into the two membranes, and content transfer is monitored by the dequenching of an aqueous content dye. By analyzing the diffusion profile of the aqueous dye after vesicle fusion, we are able to distinguish content transfer across the tethered bilayer patch from vesicle leakage above the patch.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0006-3495

VL - 101

SP - L37-L39

JO - Biophysical Journal

JF - Biophysical Journal

IS - 8

ER -