Template-directed assembly of receptor signaling complexes

An in vitro assembly for use in protein assays, said assembly comprising:

• a lipid membrane including a first lipid component;
• and a plurality of a first membrane-associated protein component, said first membrane-associated protein component having a binding affinity for said first lipid component and being coupled with said lipid membrane by interaction with said first lipid component to promote a two dimensional organization of said plurality of first membrane-associated protein component that mimics a natural organization of said first membrane-associated protein component on a cell membrane;
• wherein said first-membrane-associated protein component, when coupled with said lipid membrane, exhibits a greater biological function than the first membrane-associated protein component in an aqueous medium in the absence of the lipid membrane.

An in vitro assembly for enhancing the function of a membrane-associated receptor protein component, said assembly comprising:

• a lipid membrane comprising a first lipid component;
• a plurality of a first membrane-associated receptor protein component, said first membrane-associated receptor protein component having a binding affinity for said first lipid component and being coupled with said first lipid component;
• wherein said coupling enhances receptor function of the first membrane-associated receptor protein component compared to receptor function exhibited by the first membrane-associated receptor protein component in an aqueous medium in the absence of the lipid membrane.