Rate constant of tension-induced pore formation in lipid membranes

Langmuir. 2013 Mar 26;29(12):3848-52. doi: 10.1021/la304662p. Epub 2013 Mar 12.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of tension induced by micropipet aspiration on giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG) and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC). We analyzed the time course of the fraction of intact GUVs among all of the GUVs under constant tension σ and obtained the rate constants of pore formation kp(σ). To determine kp, we developed an approach using the mean first passage time. The fitting of the theoretical curves of kp versus σ to the experimental data determined the line tension of a prepore, Γ. The value of Γ of a DOPG/DOPC bilayer was smaller than that of a DOPC bilayer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Kinetics
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry*
  • Phosphatidylglycerols / chemistry*
  • Surface Tension
  • Thermodynamics
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Membrane Lipids
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Phosphatidylglycerols
  • Unilamellar Liposomes
  • 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol
  • 1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine