Bilayer Proteinoid Membranes

Bimolecular lipid membranes have become a useful model for studying the physicochemical properties of true membranes. 

It turned out to be true that proteinoids, without any lipids, also form bimolecular membranes.Despite the fact that black proteinoid membranes are not as long-lived in the ultrathin state as phospholipid membranes, they last long enough to be examined. Those rich in hydrocarbon-rich amino acid side chains mostly display properties characteristic for BLMs. The same polymers are among those that most readily combine with lecithin. 

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In 1973 the first finding of excitability in a proteinoid cell was reported. These data were further expanded.Transmission electron microscope evidence of a double membrane in these cells,selective permeability, and osmotic properties as well as bilayer membranes made of proteinoidsprovide an experimental background to understanding the origin of excitability. 

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