Most membranes in a cell are highly curved, not flat. Yet, most of the experimental methods for studying lipid membranes are either flat (e.g., supported lipid bilayers) or have very low curvature (e.g., large unilamellar vesicles). In order to support the study of proteins binding and acting on curved membranes, we collaborated with the lab of Prof. Arun Anantharam to report a new method for preparing lipid tubules in 2018. The method is simple to do, requiring only ultra-clean glass, lipids, water, and high- and low-salt buffers. In the paper, we demonstrate using the method to quantify tubule fission initiated by the Sar1B protein. The Knight lab remains interested in improving and expanding this method, for example by using patterned templates to seed tubule formation at defined positions. Email Dr Knight if you are interested in collaborating.
Supported tubulated lipid bilayers. Left: A simple 3-step method for making STuBs. Right: Example image of a tubule emerging from a supported lipid bilayer. From Schenk et al, Chem. Phys. Lipids 2018, 215, 18-28.