Figure 1. VP4 disrupts liposomal membranes.
(A) Scheme showing the liposome disruption assay employed. Membrane disruption was examined by encapsulating [Tb(DPA) 33−] fluorophore into LUVs. When these LUVs were suspended in a solution containing EDTA (quencher), protein mediated membrane disruption was monitored by the quenching of [Tb(DPA) 33−] emission as the encapsulated molecules were released, and terbium ions were chelated by EDTA. (B) VP4 disrupts LUVs. LUVs were prepared to examine the membrane disruption activity of VP4. Liposome disruption was evaluated using LUVs and the percentage of fluorophore quenched is indicated. Each data point shows the average of at least two independent measurements with error bars representing standard deviations. (C) Average diameter of LUVs before and after 30 min incubation with VP4 as determined by DLS. Mock LUVs were incubated in absence of any protein. Each data point shows the average of at least two independent measurements with error bars representing standard deviations.