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We report for the first time on pore-suspending lipid bilayers, which we call micro-black lipid membranes (micro-BLMs), based on a highly ordered macroporous silicon array. Micro-BLMs were established by first functionalizing the backside porous silicon surface with gold and then chemisorbing 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphothioethanol followed by spreading 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine dissolved in n-decane. Impedance spectroscopy revealed the formation of single lipid bilayers confirmed by a mean specific capacitance of 0.6 +/- 0.2 microF/cm2. Membrane resistances were in the G omega-regime and beyond. The potential of the system for single channel recordings was demonstrated by inserting the transmembrane domain of the HIV-1 accessory peptide Vpu(1-32), which forms helix bundles with characteristic opening states. We elucidated different amilorides as potential drugs to inhibit channel activity of Vpu.

Original publication

DOI

10.1021/ja0451970

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Am Chem Soc

Publication Date

15/12/2004

Volume

126

Pages

16267 - 16274

Keywords

Amiloride, Electric Impedance, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins, Ion Channels, Lipid Bilayers, Membrane Potentials, Membranes, Artificial, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Peptide Fragments, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Silicon, Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins