Conductance transition induced by an electric field in lipid bilayers
Abstract:
A cooperative phenomenon showing a structural change in the organization of bilayer lipid membranes at a critical value of the applied electric field is presented. The transition is characterized by a sharp increase in conductance. The phenomenon can be observed under current-clamp conditions (rather than the usual voltage-clamp conditions) to avoid rupturing the membrane. At a critical potential value the conductance increases and therefore the potential decreases to keep the current constant. Results refer to membranes made of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC), diphytanoylphosphatidylcholine and cholesterol/egg PC. It is found that the critical potential at which the transition occurs depends dramatically on pH and ionic concentration, indicating that the electrical properties of the external surface determine the major characteristics of such a transition.
Related Concept Videos
Induced Electric Dipoles
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor
Induced Electric Fields
Induced Electric Fields: Applications
Debye–Huckel–Onsager Conductance Equation
The Electrical Double Layer


