Supported lipid bilayers (SLB) are commonly used to study protein-membrane interactions. Here we utilize lipid-nanoparticles to create an SLB model that mimics the 25 nm size of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is known to cause aggregation of LDL and clustered LDL are selectively taken up by macrophage to produce foam cells.  CRP is found in most atherosclerotic plaques, co-localized with LDL, however, the specific role of CRP is unknown and both pro- and anti-inflammatory activities have been suggested. We have discovered that CRP recognizes phosphatidylcholine (PC) coated nanoparticles (<30 nm diameter). CRP binds PC coated gold nanoparticles in a calcium-dependant manner and binding results in clustering. We have also observed that CRP binding to high curvature PC-membranes causes conversion to the modified isoform of CRP suggesting that membrane shape plays a role in this transformation.

Binding of C-reactive protein to nanoparticle-supported lipid bilayers

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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