Microsystem for the single molecule analysis of membrane transport proteins

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2019Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General SubjectsAuthor(s): Rikiya WatanabeAbstractMicro-chamber arrays enable highly sensitive and quantitative bioassays at the single-molecule level. Accordingly, they are widely used for ultra-sensitive biomedical applications, e.g., digital PCR and digital ELISA. However, the versatility of micro-chambers is generally limited to reactions in aqueous solutions, although various functions of membrane proteins are extremely important. To address this issue, microsystems using arrayed micro-sized chambers sealed with lipid bilayers, referred to here as a “biomembrane microsystems”, have been developed by many research groups for the analysis of membrane proteins. In this review, I would like to introduce recent progress on the single molecule analysis of membrane transport proteins using a biomembrane microsystem, and discuss the future prospects for its use in analytical and pharmacological applications.

Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) General Subjects - March 28, 2019 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research