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Micromanipulation of phospholipid bilayers by atomic force microscopy.

Nobuo Maeda1, Tim J Senden, Jean-Marc di Meglio

  • 1Department of Applied Mathematics, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|July 9, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Atomic force microscopy reveals discrete force plateaux in fused phospholipid bilayers under tension. This suggests stable tube formation, potentially explaining bacterial conjugation pili formation.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Understanding phospholipid bilayer mechanics is crucial for cell adhesion and biological processes.
  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides high-resolution insights into molecular interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular details of adhesion mechanics in fused phospholipid bilayers.
  • To characterize the force-distance relationships during bilayer fusion and rupture.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) to apply tension to fused phospholipid bilayers.
  • Analyzed force-distance curves to identify discrete force plateaux and their characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Fused dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers exhibited non-distance dependent, quantized force plateaux (45.4, 81.6, 113+/-3.5 pN).

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  • This behavior persisted over distances up to 400 nm, indicating stable cylindrical tube formation bridging bilayers.
  • Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayers showed less pronounced quantization; mixed lipid bilayers displayed complex, yet explainable, behavior.

    • Conclusions:

    • The stable cylindrical tube formation in DPPC bilayers has implications for understanding pili formation and bacterial conjugation.
    • AFM force measurements provide a quantitative model for adhesion mechanics in various phospholipid systems.