Testing membrane interactions of CPPs

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:683:33-40. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-919-2_3.

Abstract

The chapter deals with some biophysical methods used for investigating CPP-induced changes in membrane properties by spectroscopy methods such as fluorescence or NMR and methods used for probing CPP-induced leakage in membranes. Some useful model systems for biomembranes are described. These include large unilamellar phospholipid vesicles (LUVs) of well-defined size (diameter typically 100 nm). A protocol for the preparation of such vesicles is included. The leakage studies make use of LUVs with entrapped dye molecules. The NMR studies make use of mixed micelles (bicelles) as a membrane mimetic system, which can be oriented in the magnetic field of the spectrometer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / chemistry
  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides / metabolism*
  • Fluoresceins / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Membrane Fluidity
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Protein Binding
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / chemistry
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / metabolism

Substances

  • Cell-Penetrating Peptides
  • Fluoresceins
  • Unilamellar Liposomes
  • fluorexon