[Reversible electrical breakdown of cholesterol-containing lipid bilayer membranes modified with holothurin A]

Reversible electrical breakdown of cholesterol-containing BLM modified with holothurin A, i. e. a significant reversible increase of membrane conductivity under the effect of the electrical field was described. So when the voltage approximately 0.3 V was applied to the BLM for 10 ms its conductivity was reversibly increased by 4 orders as compared to the initial one. Reproducibility of current oscillograms, non-linear current breakdown--potential relationship and non-linear spasmodic decrease of conductivity at step-like reduction of the potential on the membrane show similarity of this phenomenon with the reversible breakdown of the membranes of oxidized cholesterol and of asolectin BLM in the presence of UO22+ ions. The mechanism of reversible electrical breakdown of BLM is discussed in terms of the development of a great number of local conductive defects in the membrane under the effect of the electrical field.