The cytolytic peptides melittin and gramicidin S are naturally occurring agents that provide a
comparative model for studies of complement, immunotoxin and cell-mediated membrane
permeability. Most attempts to characterize cytolytic peptides have used model membrane
systems including phospholipid vesicles or erythrocytes. Membrane vesicles permit the use
of self-quenching concentrations of fluorescent permeability markers, while erythrocytes
release measurable hemoglobin. Attempts at measuring early membrane permeability …