Membrane systems

Pore-spanning membranes
We develop insulating lipid membranes that span the pores of highly ordered porous aluminate (d = 60-300 nm) and porous silicon substrates (d = 450-5000 nm), so that attoliter- to femtoliter-sized compartments are formed. These membranes can be created by spreading GUVs and GPMVs (see below), have high long-term and mechanical stability and are suitable for analyzing membrane-associated processes.



GUVs and GPMVs
Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) are models for freestanding lipid membranes. By controlling and tuning the membrane composition and mechanical properties of GUVs, they offer valuable insight into membrane processes and characteristics. We use different protocols to generate GUVs and GPMVs in our lab.



s. Gleisner et al. J. Biol. Chem. 2016, 291, 19953-19961. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M116.731612

In part funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

see the Cluster of Excellence MBExC