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Advanced biomimetic membranes for the study of membrane-active proteins

Research Area: Biophysics, biomimetics, lipid membranes, nanomembranes, protein chemistry, biomolecular interactions, ion-channels, biosensing 

Supervisor: Dr Dusan Losic

Description: Membrane proteins, in particular ion channels and receptor proteins as common drug target have received considerable attention for their application for biosensing, drug discovery and protein/ligand screening. The artificial bilayer lipid membranes are either free-standing or supported on a flat solid support like mica, glass or gold are currently used to study these membrane proteins. Although these membranes are very useful for ion-channel activity studies they lack on long-term and mechanical stability and they are not suited for automation and minituarisation as required for high-throughout screening assay to identify potential drugs. Therefore, a new approach for fabrication of biomimetic bilayers relating the accessibility of the freestanding membranes with the stability of the supported membranes is required in order to fully characterize and exploit the properties of membrane proteins. The aim of this proposal is development of platform technology for the fabrication of lipid bilayer membranes on nanostructured porous substrates where the bilayer is suspended over submicron size apertures. 

The specific goals of this project are:

• to identify and explore the parameters important for the formation and stability of the planar bilayers on porous surfaces, 
• to reveal the structural, nanomechanical, electrical and electrochemical properties of these bilayers and membrane proteins embedded in them using proteins 
• to study membrane-protein interaction related to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by using the developed platform

The successful applicant will receive wide-ranging training in biophysics, biomimetics, biointerfacial science, protein and surface chemistry. The cutting-edge biophysics and nanotechnology tools including AFM and atomic force spectroscopy (AFS), scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS), impedance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and ion channel electrical recordings will be used. There will be opportunities for international collaborations and collaborations with Australian research groups, and to attend national and international conferences relevant to the research. 

Funding: International students should apply for an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) and a UniSA President’s Scholarship (UPS). To be eligible for UPS, applicants must have a supervisor willing to nominate them for consideration. 

Australian students should apply for an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) and a UniSA Australian Postgraduate Research Award (USAPRA). 

References
1. A. Janshof, C. Steinem, Transport across artificial membranes- an analytical perspective, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2006, 385, 433-451 
2. B. Deme, D. Marchal, Eur. Biophys. J. 2005, 34, 170-179
3. C. Hennesthal, C. Steinem, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2000, 122, 8085-8086 
4. D. H. Small, D. Losic, L. L. Martin, B. J. Turner, A. Friedhuber, M. I. Aguilar, New approaches to Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics, IUBMB Letters, 2004, 56, 203-208 
5. D. Losic, L. L. Martin, A. Mechler, M.-I. Aguilar, D. H. Small, J. Struct. Biol., 2006, 155, 104-110 
6. S. S. Mok, D. Losic, C. J. Barrow, B. J. Turner, C. L. Masters, L. L. Martin, D. H. Small, J. Neurochemistry, 2006, 96, 53-64. 

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