Energy transfer method in membrane studies: some theoretical and practical aspects.

Some applications of resonance energy transfer (RET) method to distance estimation in membrane systems are considered. The model of energy transfer between donors and acceptors randomly distributed over parallel planes localized at the outer and inner membrane leaflets is presented. It is demonstrated that RET method can provide evidence for specific orientation of the fluorophore relative to the lipid-water interface. An approach to estimating the depth of the protein penetration in lipid bilayer is suggested.