Membrane Nanomechanics

Research Goal

Morphological flexibility of cell membranes provides the foundation for the spatial organisation of living cells. The signature morphologies of cellular endomembrane systems are created at the nanoscale where specialised proteolipid complexes assemble to control membrane curvature, shape and topology. We apply novel experimental approaches combining nanomanipulations, electrophysiology and time-resolved fluorescence, confocal and TIRF microscopy to characterise mechanical properties and dynamics of biomimetic and cell membranes at the nanoscale, with particular attention to topological membrane remodelling, fusion and fission, dynamics of the force- and geometry-induced unmixing of membrane components and diffusion in complex media. We reconstitute the morphological activity of the prototype proteins controlling membrane remodelling, such as dynamin and matrix protein of enveloped viruses, using nanofabricated lipid templates to resolve subtle features of the proteolipid interactions.