To investigate the molecular mechanism of membrane proteins, their incorporation into the lipid bilayer of vesicles is required. We have established a LEGO-type system, based on the SNARE protein family (exocytosis), to build vesicles containing more than one membrane protein.
Population 1 (respiratory oxidase, v-SNARE) is fused with population 2 (ATP synthase, t-SNARE) to obtain a new population that is capable to functionally link the two proteins, catalyzing the production of ATP from aerobic respiration.

This work was carried out in the group of Ass. Prof. Christoph von Ballmoos.

References:

• G. Nordlund, P. Brzezinski, C. von Ballmoos;
  "SNARE-fusion mediated insertion of membrane proteins into native and artificial membranes"
  Nature Communications, 5, 4303, (2014); doi:10.1038/ncomms5303.