Abstract

We use a simple supported lipid bilayer system and show that it displays many of the general properties of cell membranes:  obstructed lateral motion, lipid asymmetry, lipid flip-flop, nano and micro – scale phase separation, liquid-solid coexistence, liquid-liquid coexistence, nucleation and growth of domains, and directed protein binding.  Techniques used in these studies consist of atomic force microscopy, quantitative, and qualitative fluorescence microscopy.