Résumé
Bilayers made of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) mixture containing or not cholesterol (Chl) were used to investigate the interaction of a carrier peptide with membranes. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the C-terminal 9-32 fragment of human calcitonin (hCT (9-32)), free or coupled to enhanced green fluorescent protein (hCT-eGFP) cargo forms aggregates in the DOPC fluid phase in absence of Chl and in the DPPC enriched liquid-ordered phase when Chl is present. The data show that hCT (9-32) plays a determinant role in the membrane localization of the peptide–cargo complex. They suggest that carpet-like mechanism for membrane destabilization may be involved in the carrier function of hCT (9-32).