Direct determination of membrane protein-lipid organization from customizable bilayer and its application in synaptic vesicle fusion.

Multimeric organization of membrane proteins (MP) and lipids at the cell membrane is fundamental to all living organisms. To study these, we have developed a novel tunable in-vitro nativeMS platform that allows direct detection of the organization of MPs and bound lipids from membranes. Using customizable bilayers, the method can quantitatively report how specific membrane composition and biophysical properties, such as lateral pressure, curvature, and fluidity, modulate the functional organization of MPs.