Direct visualization of the mechanism(s) by which peptides induce localized changes to the structure of membranes has high potential for enabling understanding of the structure-function relationship in antimicrobial and cell-penetrating peptides. We have applied a combined imaging strategy to track the interaction of a model antimicrobial peptide, PFWRIRIRR-amide, with bacterial membrane-mimetic supported phospholipid bilayers comprised of POPE/TOCL. Our in situ studies revealed rapid reorganization of the POPE/TOCL membrane into localized TOCL-rich domains with a concomitant change in the organization of the membranes themselves, as reflected by changes in fluorescent-membrane-probe order parameter, upon introduction of the peptide.
2010 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.