Imaging of voltage-gated alamethicin pores in a reconstituted bilayer lipid membrane via scanning electrochemical microscopy

Voltage-gated biological ion channels were simulated by insertion of the peptaibol antibiotic alamethicin into reconstituted phosphatidylcholine bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was utilized to probe initial BLM resistivity, the insertion of alamethicin pore...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analyst (London) 2006-01, Vol.131 (2), p.311-316
Main Authors: Wilburn, Jeremy P, Wright, David W, Cliffel, David E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alamethicin - analysis
Anti-Bacterial Agents - analysis
Electrochemistry - methods
Ion Channel Gating
Ion Channels - analysis
Iontophoresis
Lipid Bilayers
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
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Summary:Voltage-gated biological ion channels were simulated by insertion of the peptaibol antibiotic alamethicin into reconstituted phosphatidylcholine bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was utilized to probe initial BLM resistivity, the insertion of alamethicin pores, and mass transport across the membrane. Acquired SECM images show the spatial location of inserted pore bundles, the verification of voltage control over the pore conformational state (open/closed), and variations in passive mass transport corresponding to different topographical areas of the BLM. SECM images were also used to evaluate overall BLM integrity prior to insertion as well as transport (flux in open state) and leakage (flux in closed state) currents following insertion.
ISSN:0003-2654
1364-5528
DOI:10.1039/b510649d