By attaching a fluorescent tag to a membrane protein, we are able to see individual molecules. Single-molecule methods provide many unique insights into protein function. For example, we can observe sub populations and kinetic intermediates that would be undetectable in an ensemble measurement.

We have also developed new methods to create artificial models of cell membranes. By contacting water droplets with a gel support immersed in a solution of lipid in oil we can create bilayers suitable for both single-molecule imaging and single-channel electrical recording.

Pore-forming bacterial toxins such as alpha-hemolysin provide an excellent model of membrane protein complex formation.

Using single-molecule fluorescence and single-channel electrical recording we can study the mechanism by which ion-channel gating is regulated by ligand binding.

Around one third of all drugs target G-protein Coupled Receptors. We can use single-molecule fluorescence imaging to understand the mechanism of ligand-binding in a GPCR.