Single-Molecule-Level Quantification Based on Atomic Force Microscopy Data Reveals the Interaction between Melittin and Lipopolysaccharide in Gram-Negative Bacteria.

The interaction forces and mechanical properties of the interaction between melittin (Mel) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are considered to be crucial driving forces for Mel when killing Gram-negative bacteria (GNB). However, how their interaction forces perform at the single-molecule level and the dissociation kinetic characteristics of the Mel/LPS complex remain poorly understood. In this study, the single-molecule-level interaction forces between Mel and LPSs from