Stalk dynamics and lipid flow upon membrane hemifusion

The hydrodynamic theory describing stalk dynamics and lipid flows upon BLM hemifusion was developed. Comparison of the theoretical calculations and li terature data allowed us to determine the value of intermonolayer viscosity eta(r), for membranes formed from azolectin mixed with lizophosphatidylhol in (7.10(-4) mg/ml) in n-decane, eta(r) similar to 10(-9) g/s. For membrane s formed in squalene, the values eta(r) similar to 10(-7) g/s for phosphati dylethanolamin and eta(r) similar to 2.10(-7) g/s - for azolectin were obta ined, The calculated values are close to the published results of independe nt experiments, which shows that the developed theory describes well the st alk growth and lipid flow.