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Experimental Investigations on the Conductance of Lipid Membranes Under Differential Hydrostatic Pressure
Membranes
  • Rose Whiting, Boise State University
  • Pangaea W. Finn, Boise State University
  • Andrew Bogard, Boise State University
  • Fulton McKinney, Boise State University
  • Dallin Pankratz, Boise State University
  • Aviana R. Smith, Boise State University
  • Elen A. Gardner, Boise State University
  • Daniel Fologea, Boise State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2022
Disciplines
Abstract

The unassisted transport of inorganic ions through lipid membranes has become increasingly relevant to an expansive range of biological phenomena. Recent simulations indicate a strong influence of a lipid membrane’s curvature on its permeability, which may be part of the overall cell sensitivity to mechanical stimulation. However, most ionic permeability experiments employ a flat, uncurved lipid membrane, which disregards the physiological relevance of curvature on such investigations. To fill this gap in our knowledge, we adapted a traditional experimental system consisting of a planar lipid membrane, which we exposed to a controlled, differential hydrostatic pressure. Our electrophysiology experiments indicate a strong correlation between the changes in membrane geometry elicited by the application of pressure, as inferred from capacitance measurements, and the resulting conductance. Our experiments also confirmed the well-established influence of cholesterol addition to lipid membranes in adjusting their mechanical properties and overall permeability. Therefore, the proposed experimental system may prove useful for a better understanding of the intricate connections between membrane mechanics and adjustments of cellular functionalities upon mechanical stimulation, as well as for confirmation of predictions made by simulations and theoretical modeling.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Citation Information
Whiting, Rose; Finn, Pangaea W.; Bogard, Andrew; McKinney, Fulton; Pankratz, Dallin; Smith, Aviana R.; Gardner, Elen A.; and Fologea, Daniel. (2022). "Experimental Investigations on the Conductance of Lipid Membranes Under Differential Hydrostatic Pressure". Membranes, 12(5), 479. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12050479