PubMed · 11536988
Gravity effects on biological systems.
Abstract
Theoretical investigations of the membrane-solution interface predict different effects of gravity on vertically and horizontally oriented planar membranes. Single channel events of gramicidin incorporated into phosphatidylserine planar bilayer membranes were measured in 0.1 M KCl solution, pH 7, at room temperature. The potential difference across the membrane was set to +/- 70 mV. The mean channel current was observed to be about 20% higher in horizontally oriented membranes compared to vertical membranes. This is in good agreement with the theoretical considerations and demonstrates that gravity does affect membrane processes by interaction with the membrane-solution interface which is a ubiquitous structure in biological systems.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
A Schatz, R Reitstetter, W Briegleb, A Linke-Hommes. 1992. Gravity effects on biological systems.. https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(92)90263-w
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.