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Scanning Force Microscopy of Artificial Membranes
Author(s) -
Janshoff Andreas,
Steinem Claudia
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/1439-7633(20011105)2:11<798::aid-cbic798>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - membrane , biological membrane , microscopy , force spectroscopy , chemistry , membrane protein , biophysics , scanning force microscopy , atomic force microscopy , materials science , nanotechnology , biochemistry , biology , physics , optics
Visualization of biological membranes by scanning force microscopy (SFM) has tremendously improved the current understanding of protein–lipid interactions under physiological conditions. SFM is the only tool to directly image processes on surfaces in aqueous solution at molecular resolution. Besides being a supportive means to confirm results on lipid phases and domains obtained from fluorescence spectroscopy, calorimetry, and X‐ray crystallography, SFM has contributed distinct aspects on the formation of 2D crystals of various membrane‐confined proteins and morphological changes of membranes due to the interaction of peptides and proteins. This review will focus on recent results in SFM imaging of artificial solid‐supported membranes, their phase behavior as a response to the environment, and changes in membrane morphology induced by the partitioning of peptides and proteins.