Membrane tension lowering induced by protein activity

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Jan 23;102(3):038102. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.038102. Epub 2009 Jan 21.

Abstract

Using videomicroscopy we present measurements of the fluctuation spectrum of giant vesicles containing bacteriorhodopsin pumps. When the pumps are activated, we observe a significant increase of the fluctuations in the low wave vector region, which we interpret as due to a lowering of the effective tension of the membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriorhodopsins / chemistry*
  • Bacteriorhodopsins / metabolism
  • Biological Transport, Active
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Video / methods
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / metabolism

Substances

  • Unilamellar Liposomes
  • Bacteriorhodopsins