Biological membranes such as the cell surface and outer mitocondrial membranes are complex structures that perform intricate molecular functions. Without them, life as we know it cannot exist.
Artificial membranes mimic the structure and properties of biological membranes. To emulate these structures, analogs must be found for the phospholipids, proteins and carbohydrates that make up the bulk of biological membranes.
Our group specialises in producing bilayered membranes from phospholipids and amphiphilic diblock copolymers. These mimic the bilayered structure of cell membranes and can be either tethered to a surface or in vesicle form.
We can then augment these artificial membranes with proteins such as the bacterial S-layer protein, or membrane proteins produced using cell extracts.
