The effect of Gramicidin on the membrane potential of neurons in the CNS of L. stagnalis

Gramicidin is a pore-forming peptide which exhibits lethal properties against a large spectrum of cells. It forms monovalent cation-specific channel in the lipid bilayer of a cellular membrane with limited permeability to anions or polyvalent cations. Both ions and water move through the pore which is formed by the peptide backbone. We detected formation of pores induced by the dimerization of gramicidin molecules by monitoring changes in the membrane and action potentials of neurons in the central nervous system of Lymnaea stagnalis. This methodology could be used for the study of peptide interactions with neuronal cellular membranes.