Self-assembled alpha-hemolysin pores in an S-layer-supported lipid bilayer

The effects of a supporting proteinaceous surface-layer (S-layer) from Bacillus coagulans E38-66 on a 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPhPC) bilayer were investigated. Comparative voltage clamp studies on plain and S-layer supported DPhPC bilayers revealed no significant difference in the capacitance. The conductance of the composite membrane decreased slightly upon recrystallization of the S-layer. Thus, the attached S-layer lattice did not interpenetrate or rupture the DPhPC bilayer. The self-assembly of a pore-forming protein into the S-layer supported lipid bilayer was examined. Staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin formed lytic pores when added to the lipid-exposed side. The assembly was slow compared to unsupported membranes, perhaps due to an altered fluidity of the lipid bilayer. No assembly could be detected upon adding alpha-hemolysin monomers to the S-layer-faced side of the composite membrane. Therefore, the intrinsic molecular sieving properties of the S-layer lattice do not allow passage of alpha-hemolysin monomers through the S-layer pores to the lipid bilayer. In comparison to plain lipid bilayers, the S-layer supported lipid membrane had a decreased tendency to rupture in the presence of alpha-hemolysin.