ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Magnetic contrast reflectometry to resolve transmembrane potential effects on the binding of MinD-MTS to a floating bilayer

Abstract: The division of bacteria is controlled by the binding of proteins to the inner of the two lipid bilayer membranes that separates the inside of the cell from the outside world. This membrane behaves like a capacitor and its properties are thought to vary with the size of the electrical potential that exists across it. We can construct a flat model for this membrane above a gold-coated silicon block and use the reflection of neutrons from this thin film to probe the details of the structure of the membrane and how this changes with an applied electrical potential and when the anchoring peptide of the cell division protein inserts into the membrane. From this information we hope to understand if the insertion of this protein is controlled by the electrical potential, which can be related to metabolic state of actual bacteria. In the long term this may help to control bacterial infection.

Principal Investigator: Dr Simon Titmuss
Experimenter: Dr Rob Barker
Local Contact: Dr Christy Kinane
Experimenter: Miss Laura McKinley

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1520327

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1520327

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Simon Titmuss et al; (2016): Magnetic contrast reflectometry to resolve transmembrane potential effects on the binding of MinD-MTS to a floating bilayer, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1520327

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.