Examination of ion channel protein orientation in supported lipid bilayers

We investigated techniques for regulating the orientation of ion channel-type membrane proteins reconstituted in lipid bilayers. Free ion channel proteins aligned their long axis parallel to the substrate. In contrast, immunochemical and atomic force microscopy images revealed that ion channels reconstituted in supported lipid bilayers oriented upward, with their long axis perpendicular to the substrate. Our data demonstrates that the reconstitution of ion channels into planar lipid bilayers by rupturing small unilamellar proteoliposomes is a promising way of aligning ion channels upward in a membrane and of obtaining ion channels with controlled functions.