Specific recognition and formation of two- dimensional streptavidin domains in monolayers: applications to molecular devices

Abstract By virtue of the high-affinity specific interaction between the vitamin, biotin, and the protein, streptavidin, monolayers of synthetic lipids with biotin headgroups can tightly bind streptavidin at the lipid-water interface. Through this specific recognition fluorescently-labelled streptavidin spontaneously organizes in the plane of the interface to form large protein domains, directly visible in situ by fluorescence microscopy and exhibiting optical anisotropy. Further structural characterization has shown that these domains are two-dimensional protein crystals. Correlation with the known three-dimensional crystal structure of streptavidin indicates that two of streptavidin's fou…

Protein interactions with ordered lipid films: Specific and unspecific binding

Binding, Interaction, and Organization of Proteins with Lipid Model Membranes

Model membrane systems are used to investigate protein recognition and binding at interfaces. Fluorescence microscopy results are presented for interactions of the proteins, phospholipase A2 and antifluorescyl IgG, at lipid monolayer interfaces. Total internal reflection fluorescence measurements are used to quantify albumin and IgG adsorption to supported lipid monolayers.

Modeling of Cell Membrane Targeting: Specific Recognition, Binding, and Protein Domain Formation in Ligand-Containing Model Biomembranes

Drug delivery systems are designed to assist, accelerate, and control transport of pharmacologically active agents from sites of administration to specified targets in organs and tissues. So-called controlled drug delivery systems are intended to maintain continuously efficacious drug concentrations in vivo, either locally or systemically, over longer time periods. They should provide constant dosage levels above a minimum level of efficacy yet below mandated toxicity levels — a significant advantage over many conventional systemically administered formulations. Site-specific targeting of drugs, particularly those agents which prove highly toxic in small doses, can be utilized to maintain t…

Orientation, recognition, and photoreaction of nucleolipids in model membranes

Amphiphiles with nucleobases and nucleosides as headgroups have been synthesized. Their surface behavior was investigated in monolayers at the air/water interface. The double chain nucleolipids form stable monolayers with nearly identical surface pressure-area diagrams, whereas the spreading behavior of the mono chain amphiphiles is dominated by the various nucleobase-headgroups. When measuring the interactions between nucleolipid monolayers and nucleobases (monomeric and polymeric ones), specific base-base effects could be observed: the complementary nucleobases solubilized in the subphase expand the monolayer more than the non-complementary ones. Photodimerization reactions of thymine-amp…

Quenching of fluorescein-conjugated lipids by antibodies. Quantitative recognition and binding of lipid-bound haptens in biomembrane models, formation of two-dimensional protein domains and molecular dynamics simulations

Three model biomembrane systems, monolayers, micelles, and vesicles, have been used to study the influence of chemical and physical variables of hapten presentation at membrane interfaces on antibody binding. Hapten recognition and binding were monitored for the anti-fluorescein monoclonal antibody 4–4-20 generated against the hapten, fluorescein, in these membrane models as a function of fluorescein-conjugated lipid architecture. Specific recognition and binding in this system are conveniently monitored by quenching of fluorescein emission upon penetration of fluorescein into the antibody's active site. Lipid structure was shown to play a large role in affecting antibody quenching. Interes…