Giant unilamellar vesicles, fluorescence microscopy and lipid-peptide interactions.

E.E. AMBROGGIO; LUIS A. BAGATOLLI; M.A. CASTANHO

Membrane-Active Peptides: Methods and Results on Structure and Function

International University Line

Año: 2009; p. 179 - 200

Using giant vesicles as model systems, several experimental strategies based on
microscopy-related techniques (phase-contrast, wide-field, confocal, and multiphoton
excitation fluorescence microscopy) have been employed in recent years
to study physicochemical events occurring in membranes. This chapter discusses
methodological aspects of some of these experimental approaches, particularly
stressing applications on lipid?peptide interaction studies. Technical details
about the preparation of giant vesicles, experimental strategies, and the particular
visual information obtained at the level of single vesicles are discussed in
this chapter.