Assessment of potential stimuli for mechano-dependent gating of MscL: Effects of pressure, tension, and lipid headgroups

The role of the membrane matrix through in vitro reconstitution of the MscL protein in defined lipid bilayers is addressed. The major endogenous lipid of the Escherichia coli membrane, phosphatidylethanolamine, led to a channel activity at a higher tension threshold, suggesting that the lipid effects activity through changes in the biophysical properties of the membrane, rather than through MscL-specific interaction.