Abstract: The present invention describes a new artificial supported membrane, as well as methods of preparation of such membrane or of reconstitution of cell membranes from their constituent proteins and lipids. Such membrane comprises a lipid bilayer attached to a support by phospholipid tethers (P) creating a space between the bilayer and the support, as well as one or more ligands (L) specific of a protein, covalently bound to the support and exposed in said space. The invention equally describes the uses of such membranes which allow the purification and/or reversible capture of membrane proteins or yet the screening of compounds that interact with some of these proteins. A membrane according to the invention may further serve to evaluate the toxicity or, conversely, the therapeutic effect of test compounds.