THE BENDING RIGIDITY OF PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE BILAYERS - DEPENDENCES ONEXPERIMENTAL-METHOD, SAMPLE CELL SEALING AND TEMPERATURE

The bilayer bending rigidities were measured for the same spherical ve sicles with two methods, fluctuation mode analysis and electric deform ation. In some of the sample cells the glue sealing the cell was in di rect contact with the sample, in others the sample was shielded from t he glue by a silicone grease. The values of the rigidity, while being lowest and practically equal for the unshielded samples, differed sign ificantly between methods for the shielded ones. We also measured the temperature dependence of the bending rigidity. The dependence of the rigidity on method seems to suggest the existence of a membrane supers tructure.