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. 1987 Nov;52(5):685–692. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(87)83263-0

Incorporation kinetics in a membrane, studied with the pore-forming peptide alamethicin.

G Schwarz 1, H Gerke 1, V Rizzo 1, S Stankowski 1
PMCID: PMC1330173  PMID: 3427183

Abstract

The reaction of fluorescence-labeled alamethicin with unilamellar phospholipid vesicles (DOPC and DMPC) has been investigated in a stopped-flow apparatus. Clearly single exponential time functions have been observed at temperatures above the phase transition of the bilayer. This can be interpreted in terms of an essentially one-step incorporation process. The pseudo first-order forward rate is found to be quite fast, falling in a range somewhat below the diffusion controlled upper bound. The data are quantitatively very well described on the basis of a simple mechanism. This comprises diffusion of peptide into the bilayer accompanied by a more or less slower change of the secondary structure. Aggregation of the incorporated molecules at higher concentrations is indicated to be comparatively rapid.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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