Protein assembly at the air-water interface studied by fluorescence microscopy

Langmuir. 2011 Nov 1;27(21):12775-81. doi: 10.1021/la203053g. Epub 2011 Oct 3.

Abstract

Protein assembly at the air-water interface (AWI) occurs naturally in many biological processes and provides a method for creating biomaterials. However, the factors that control protein self-assembly at the AWI and the dynamic processes that occur during adsorption are still underexplored. Using fluorescence microscopy, we investigated assembly at the AWI of a model protein, human serum albumin minimally labeled with Texas Red fluorophore. Static and dynamic information was obtained under low subphase concentrations. By varying the solution protein concentration, ionic strength, and redox state, we changed the microstructure of protein assembly at the AWI accordingly. The addition of pluronic surfactant caused phase segregation to occur at the AWI, with fluid surfactant domains and more rigid protein domains revealed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments. Protein domains were observed to coalesce during this competitive adsorption process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Air*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Serum Albumin / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry*
  • Xanthenes / chemistry

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Serum Albumin
  • Xanthenes
  • Water
  • Texas red