Mechanism and kinetics of pore formation in membranes by water-soluble amphipathic peptides

How antimicrobial peptides form pores in membranes is of interest as a fundamental membrane process. However, the underlying molecular mechanism, which has potential applications in therapeutics, nonviral gene transfer, and drug delivery, has been in dispute. We have resolved this mechanism by observing the time-dependent process of pore formation in individual giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) exposed to a melittin solution. An individual GUV first expanded its surface area at constant volume and then suddenly reversed to expanding its volume at constant area. The area expansion, the volume expansion, and the point of reversal all match the results of equilibrium measurements performed on peptide-lipid mixtures. The mechanism includes a negative feedback that makes peptide-induced pores stable with a well defined size, contrary to the suggestion that peptides disintegrate the membrane in a detergent-like manner.