A minimal actin cortex (MACs) employs a thin layer of polymerized actin that is chemically coupled to a lipid membrane. Recently, MACs have been shown to enhance the mechanical resilience of black lipid membranes containing biological nanopores, without blocking access to bulk solution. Our ongoing work explores the creation of actin multilayers and their effects on membrane dynamics. We observe a density and thickness increase following layering and cross-linking procedures. Membrane surface accessibility to bulk solution is also explored as a function of actin layering. The actin network and filament dynamics are imaged using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and the fluidity of the lipid bilayers is probed using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and single molecule diffusion techniques.

Probing the translational dynamics of MAC-derived lipid bilayers as a component of synthetic cells

2019 Spring National Meeting

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