Direct measurement of the force between two lipid bilayers and observation of their fusion

The force between twophosphatidylcholine bilayers is measured as a function of their separation, showing a strong hydration repulsion at short range, as previously reported by LeNeveu et al. (LeNeveu, D.M., Rand, R.P., Parsegian, V.A. and Gingell, D. (1977) (Biophys. J. 18, 209-230). The experimental technique also allows direct observation of the molecular process by which two bilayers fuse into one.<br />