Dynamic force spectroscopy on supported lipid bilayers: effect of temperature and sample preparation.

ABSTRACT: Biological membranes are constantly exposed to forces. The stress-strain relation in membranes determines the behavior of many integral membrane proteins or other membrane related-proteins that show a mechanosensitive behavior. Here, we studied by force spectroscopy the behavior of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) subjected to forces perpendicular to their plane. We measured the lipid bilayer mechanical properties and the force required for the punch-through event characteristic of atomic force spectroscopy on SLBs as a function of the interleaflet coupling. We found that for an uncoupled bilayer, the overall tip penetration occurs sequentially through the two leaflets, giving rise to two penetration events. In the case of a bilayer with coupled leaflets, penetration of the atomic force mic

SUBMITTER: Alessandrini A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3388201 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature