AFM to Study Pore-Forming Proteins.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a form of contact microscopy that uses a very sharp tip to scan the surface of a sample. It provides a 3D image of the surface structure, and in the force mode, it can also be used to test the mechanical properties of the sample. AFM has been successfully applied to study the molecular mechanism of pore-forming proteins on model membranes. It gives information about both the structural reorganization of the membrane surface and the changes in the force required for membrane piercing upon incubation with this special type of proteins. Here, we describe robust protocols to investigate the effect of pore-forming proteins in supported lipid bilayers.