Structure of magainin and alamethicin in model membranes studied by x-ray reflectivity
Author(s): Li, C., T. Salditt
Journal: Biophys. J. (2006) 91: 3285-3300.
Abstract:
We have investigated the structure of lipid bilayers containing varied molar ratios of different lipids and the antimicrobial peptides magainin and alamethicin. For this structural study, we have used x-ray reflectivity on highly aligned solid-supported multilamellar lipid membranes. The reflectivity curves have been analyzed by semi-kinematical reflectivity theory modeling the bilayer density profile ρ(z). Model simulations of the reflectivity curves cover a large range of vertical momentum transfer qz, and yield excellent agreement between data and theory. The structural changes observed as a function of the molar peptide/lipid concentration P/L are discussed in a comparative way.