Light-driven proteins in artificial membranes—a new method for biohybrid systems
Light-driven membrane proteins are key components in biohybrid systems because they can convert light energy into ion gradients, enabling energy conversion or sensory applications. While their integration into natural lipid membranes is well studied, embedding them in artificial polymer membranes has proven challenging.
This article explores a new method for incorporating light-driven membrane proteins into artificial polymer membranes, a significant advancement in biohybrid systems. Light-driven membrane proteins, including the sodium-proton pump KR2 from the bacterium Krokinobacter eikastus, are capable of converting light energy into ion gradients, making them valuable for energy conversion and sensory applications.
However, their integration into natural lipid membranes is well established, while embedding them in artificial polymer membranes has been a challenge due to the mechanical stability and physicochemical properties of polymers, which complicate protein incorporation.
In a study published in Biomacromolecules, researchers led by Professor Cornelia Palivan from the University of Basel and Dr. Richard Kammerer from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI developed a method to successfully integrate KR2 into flat and spherical polymer membranes made of PMOXA-b-PDMS. The key to this successful integration was the use of a mild detergent, DDV, which locally softens the polymer membrane without damaging its structure, allowing for the incorporation of KR2 while preserving its functionality.
Dr. Piotr Jasko, a first author of the study, explains that this approach enables the maintenance of KR2's ion transport capabilities when exposed to light, confirming its viability for biohybrid applications.
Fluorescence measurement techniques were employed to quantify the protein incorporation, providing a reliable method for assessing the success of the integration process. This method is versatile and can be applied to both flat (2D) and spherical (3D) polymer membranes, as well as other types of polymer membranes and membrane proteins.
By successfully embedding light-driven proteins into artificial membranes, this research opens up new possibilities for developing biohybrid membranes capable of utilizing light energy for ion transport, sensing, or energy conversion applications.
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