Antigen-antibody-complement reaction studies on micro bilayer lipid membranes

The ion permeability of lipid membranes formed on Millipore and Nuclepore filters has been found to exhibit stepwise reductions in electrical resistance in the presence of Forssman antigen, appropriate antiserum and complement. The results appear to support the "hydrophobic doughnut" or transmembrane channel hypothesis, which envisions several polypeptide chains anchoring from more than one terminal complement component to interact with one another within the lipid bilayer. Channel formation in these artificial membranes is believed to be due to the insertion of complement proteins. Concentrations and temperature studies were carried out to ascertain that the electrical responses were owing to the generation of stable channels by complement across the membrane. The diameter of these channels was estimated to be in the order of 100 A.