title: Direct imaging of lipid-ion network formation under physiological conditions by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy.
abstract: Various metal cations in physiological solutions interact with lipid headgroups in biological membranes, having an impact on their structure and stability, yet little is known about the molecular-scale dynamics of the lipid-ion interactions. Here we directly investigate the extensive lipid-ion interaction networks and their transient formation between headgroups in a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer under physiological conditions. The spatial distribution of ion occupancy is imaged in real space by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy with sub-Angstrom resolution.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices, Lincoln Place Gate, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuma
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Suzanne P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jarvis