Control of Frictional Coupling of Transmembrane Cell Receptors in Model Cell Membranes with Linear Polymer Spacers

Oliver Purrucker, Anton Förtig, Rainer Jordan, Erich Sackmann, and Motomu Tanaka

Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 078102 – Published 12 February 2007

Abstract

The planar plasma membrane model with linear polymer spacers with defined lengths enables the control of the frictional coupling between incorporated transmembrane proteins (human platelet integrin) and the solid substrate. This mimics the viscous environment provided by the extracellular matrix of cells. The friction coefficient can be calculated quantitatively from the diffusion coefficient of integrin, measured by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. The obtained results demonstrate a clear influence of the length and lateral density of polymer chains on the mobility of transmembrane proteins.

Received 21 April 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.078102

Authors & Affiliations

Oliver Purrucker¹, Anton Förtig², Rainer Jordan^2,*, Erich Sackmann¹, and Motomu Tanaka^1,3,†

¹Lehrstuhl für Biophysik E22, Technische Universität München, D85748 Garching, Germany
²Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Stoffe, Technische Universität München, D85748 Garching, Germany
³Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, D69120 Heidelberg, Germany

^*Also at Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Polytechnic University Six Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
^†Electronic address: tanaka@uni-heidelberg.de

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Vol. 98, Iss. 7 — 16 February 2007

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