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AFM to Study Pore-Forming Proteins

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Atomic Force Microscopy

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1886))

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a form of contact microscopy that uses a very sharp tip to scan the surface of a sample. It provides a 3D image of the surface structure and in the force mode it can also be used to test the mechanical properties of the sample. AFM has been successfully applied to study the molecular mechanism of pore-forming proteins on model membranes. It gives information about both the structural reorganization of the membrane surface and the changes in the force required for membrane piercing upon incubation with this special type of proteins. Here we describe robust protocols to investigate the effect of pore-forming proteins in supported lipid bilayers .

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Joseph D. Unsay & Ana J. García-Sáez

Authors
  1. Joseph D. Unsay
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  2. Ana J. García-Sáez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana J. García-Sáez .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Nuno C. Santos

  2. Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Filomena A. Carvalho

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Unsay, J.D., García-Sáez, A.J. (2019). AFM to Study Pore-Forming Proteins. In: Santos, N., Carvalho, F. (eds) Atomic Force Microscopy. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1886. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_10

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8893-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8894-5

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