ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Lipid bilayers suspended beneath the air/water interface for neutron reflectivity investigation of mechanosensitive ion channels

Abstract: Bacterial membranes contain safety valves called mechanosensitive ion channels, which protect the bacterium from changes in the osmotic pressure of their environment. However, they also represent a possible Achilles heel, which we may be able to exploit to help overcome the current rise in bacterial antimicrobial resistance. The ion channels could be actuated by a change in membrane tension caused by therapeutic molecules interacting with the membrane. We will develop a platform in which a model bacterial membrane is formed beneath a single layer of soap molecules at the air-water interface of a trough. We will use the reflection of neutrons to probe if the addition of the therapeutic peptide causes a change in the curvature/tension of the bilayer in which the ion channels have been embedded and in doing so causes the channel to open, increasing the amount of water in the bilayer.

Principal Investigator: Dr Simon Titmuss
Experimenter: Dr Sophie Ayscough
Local Contact: Dr Maxmilian Skoda

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1910569

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1910569

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Simon Titmuss et al; (2019): Lipid bilayers suspended beneath the air/water interface for neutron reflectivity investigation of mechanosensitive ion channels, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1910569

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.