Gramicidin Channel Kinetics under Tension

We have measured the effect of tension on dimerization kinetics of the channel-forming peptide gramicidin A. By aspirating large unilamellar vesicles into a micropipette electrode, we are able to simultaneously monitor membrane tension and electrical activity. We find that the dimer formation rate i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBiophysical journal Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 328 - 337
Main Authors Goulian, M., Mesquita, O.N., Fygenson, D.K., Nielsen, C., Andersen, O.S., Libchaber, A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 1998
Subjects
Dimerization
Electrochemistry
Gramicidin - analogs & derivatives
Gramicidin - chemistry
Ion Channels - chemistry
Ion Channels - physiology
Lipid Bilayers
Models, Biological
Models, Molecular
Patch-Clamp Techniques - instrumentation
Phosphatidylcholines - chemistry
Probability
Stress, Mechanical
Thermodynamics
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Summary:We have measured the effect of tension on dimerization kinetics of the channel-forming peptide gramicidin A. By aspirating large unilamellar vesicles into a micropipette electrode, we are able to simultaneously monitor membrane tension and electrical activity. We find that the dimer formation rate increases by a factor of 5 as tension ranges from 0 to 4 dyn/cm. The dimer lifetime also increases with tension. This behavior is well described by a phenomenological model of membrane elasticity in which tension modulates the mismatch in thickness between the gramicidin dimer and membrane.
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ISSN:0006-3495
1542-0086
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3495(98)77790-2