Acta Physica Sinica, Volume. 69, Issue 10, 108701-1(2020)

Single molecular kinetics during the interactions between melittin and a bi-component lipid membrane

Cheng Xu1, Zhao Lin1, Kai Yang1,2、*, and Bing Yuan1,2、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
  • 2School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
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    Due to the unique bacterial killing ability through membrane permeabilization and content leakage, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been regarded as promising candidates against the severe threats of drug-resistant bacteria and even superbugs to public health. However, investigations of the mechanism underlying their membrane permeabilization like poration are still on the way. Here, from the perspective of molecular motion kinetics, we studied the interactions between melittin, as one of the most representative AMPs, and a bi-component lipid membrane based on the combination of single-molecule tracking and molecular dynamics simulations. Our results reveal that, the mobility of some lipids in membrane, in comparison of the other most molecules, is significantly decreased by the surface adsorption and transmembrane insertion of melittin. Moreover, melittin tends to work at the boundary region between phase domains, disturb and blur the phase separation behavior and consequently lower the confinement of phase boundary on lipid motions. This work demonstrates the correlation between membrane activity of melittin and the motion kinetics of lipids as well as phase behavior of the membrane. These results would be helpful not only for understanding the molecular mechanism of AMPs from a new perspective but also for the development of new antibacterial agents with improved performance.

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    Cheng Xu, Zhao Lin, Kai Yang, Bing Yuan. Single molecular kinetics during the interactions between melittin and a bi-component lipid membrane[J]. Acta Physica Sinica, 2020, 69(10): 108701-1

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    Paper Information

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    Received: Feb. 1, 2020

    Accepted: --

    Published Online: Nov. 30, 2020

    The Author Email: Yuan Bing (yuanbing@suda.edu.cn)

    DOI:10.7498/aps.69.20200166

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