Large scale model lipid membrane movement induced by a cation switch.

ABSTRACT: A biomembrane sample system where millimolar changes of cations induce reversible large scale (≥ 200 Å) changes in the membrane-to-surface distance is described. The system composes of a free-floating bilayer, formed adjacent to a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). To examine the membrane movements, differently charged floating bilayers in the presence and absence of Ca²⁺ and Na⁺, respectively, were examined using neutron reflectivity and quartz crystal microbalance measurements, alongside molecular dynamics simulations. In neutron reflectivity the variation of Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ concentration enabled precision manipulation of the membrane-to-surface distance. Simulations suggest that Ca²⁺ ions bridge between SAM and bilayer whereas the more di

SUBMITTER: John LH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8109235 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature