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Biophysical Journal 53: 327-335 (1988)
© 1988 the Biophysical Society

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Planar bilayer membranes made from phospholipid monolayers form by a thinning process.

W D Niles, R A Levis and F S Cohen

Rush Medical College, Department of Physiology, Chicago, Illinois 60612.

ABSTRACT

We investigated the manner in which planar phospholipid membranes form when monolayers are sequentially raised. Simultaneous electrical and optical recordings showed that initially a thick film forms, and the capacitance of the film increases with the same time course as the observed thinning. The diameter of fully thinned membranes varies from membrane to membrane and a torus is readily observed. The frequency-dependent admittance of the membrane was measured using a wide-bandwidth voltage clamp whose frequency response is essentially independent of capacitative load. The membrane capacitance dominates the total admittance and the membrane dielectric is not lossy. The specific capacitance of membranes of several mixtures was measured. A schematic diagram of the formation of these membranes is presented.






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Copyright © 1988 by the Biophysical Society.