Ions Modulate Stress-Induced Nanotexture in Supported Fluid Lipid Bilayers.

ABSTRACT: Most plasma membranes comprise a large number of different molecules including lipids and proteins. In the standard fluid mosaic model, the membrane function is effected by proteins whereas lipids are largely passive and serve solely in the membrane cohesion. Here we show, using supported 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine lipid bilayers in different saline solutions, that ions can locally induce ordering of the lipid molecules within the otherwise fluid bilayer when the latter is supported. This nanoordering exhibits a characteristic length scale of ∼20 nm, and manifests itself clearly when mechanical stress is applied to the membrane. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements in aqueous solutions containing NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂, and Tris buffer show that the magnitude of th

SUBMITTER: Piantanida L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5529180 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature