Thermal fluctuation and elasticity of lipid vesicles interacting with pore-forming peptides

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Jul 16;105(3):038101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.038101. Epub 2010 Jul 13.

Abstract

The thermal fluctuation and elasticity of dioleoyl-phosphocholine large unilamellar vesicle interacting with pore-forming peptide, melittin, were investigated by neutron spin-echo measurements. The relaxation behavior of the membrane fluctuation with different peptide to lipid molar ratio P/L can be divided into three regions, resulting from characteristic changes of the effective bending modulus κ(˜) of the membrane which includes the effects of internal dissipation within the membrane. At low P/L, melittin is adsorbed parallel to the surface of membrane and κ(˜) decreases significantly due to perturbation of hydrocarbon chain packing. At a critical P/L, melittin forms pores in the membrane and κ(˜) starts to increase slightly due to high pore rigidity. At higher P/L where the repulsive interpore interaction becomes significant, κ(˜) increases rapidly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Elasticity
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Membrane Fluidity / physiology
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / metabolism
  • Porosity
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Time Factors
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / metabolism

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Peptides
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Unilamellar Liposomes
  • 1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine