Incorporation of Membrane Proteins in Solid‐Supported Lipid Layers

Monomolecular lipid mono- and bilayers having peptide spacer groups are prepared in situ on gold substrates. By fusion with liposomes containing ATPase, they spontaneously form lipid bilayers. Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements indicate that the enzyme is incorporated into the lipid layer (depicted schematically on the right). The activity of the enzyme, in this case the translocation of protons across the lipid layer, is detected by the current due to the discharge of protons at the gold electrode.