Effect of temperature on the nanomechanics of lipid bilayers studied by force spectroscopy.

ABSTRACT: The effect of temperature on the nanomechanical response of supported lipid bilayers has been studied by force spectroscopy with atomic force microscopy. We have experimentally proved that the force needed to puncture the lipid bilayer (Fy) is temperature dependent. The quantitative measurement of the evolution of Fy with temperature has been related to the structural changes that the surface undergoes as observed through atomic force microscopy images. These studies were carried out with three different phosphatidylcholine bilayers with different main phase transition temperature (TM), namely, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The solid-like phase shows a much higher Fy than the liquid-lik

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Manyes S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1366991 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature