Transmembrane proteins (TMPs) regulate processes occurring at the cell surface and are essential gatekeepers of information flow across the membrane. TMPs are difficult to study, given the complex environment of the membrane and its influence on protein conformation, mobility, biomolecule interaction, and activity. For the first time, we create mammalian biomembranes supported on a transparent, electrically conducting polymer surface, which enables dual electrical and optical monitoring of TMP function in its native membrane environment. Mammalian plasma membrane vesicles containing ATP-gated P2X2 ion channels self-assemble on a biocompatible polymer cushion that transduces the changes in ion flux during ATP exposure. This platform maintains the complexity of the native plasma membrane, the fluidity of its constituents, and protein orientation critical to ion channel function. We demonstrate the dual-modality readout using microscopy to characterize protein mobility by single-particle tracking and sensing of ATP gating of P2X2 using electrical impedance spectroscopy. This measurement of TMP activity important for pain sensing, neurological activity, and sensory activity raises new possibilities for drug screening and biosensing applications.

中文翻译：

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哺乳动物细胞膜在具有功能性跨膜蛋白的生物电子设备上的自组装。

跨膜蛋白（TMP）调节细胞表面发生的过程，并且是跨膜信息流的必不可少的守门人。考虑到膜的复杂环境及其对蛋白质构象，迁移率，生物分子相互作用和活性的影响，TMP很难研究。我们首次创建了在透明导电聚合物表面上支撑的哺乳动物生物膜，从而能够在其天然膜环境中对TMP功能进行双重电学和光学监测。包含ATP门控的P2X2离子通道的哺乳动物质膜囊泡在生物相容性聚合物垫子上自组装，该垫子可转换ATP暴露期间离子通量的变化。这个平台维持了原生质膜的复杂性，成分的流动性，和蛋白质取向对离子通道功能至关重要。我们展示了使用显微镜的双模态读数，通过单颗粒跟踪和电阻抗光谱法检测P2X2的ATP门控来表征蛋白质的迁移率。对疼痛感觉，神经活动和感觉活动重要的TMP活性的这种测量为药物筛选和生物传感应用提供了新的可能性。