The impact of cell-penetrating peptides on membrane bilayer structure during binding and insertion

• The effect of penetratin on bilayer structure was studied using DPI.
• Penetratin bound weakly to neutral bilayers and strongly to anionic bilayers.
• The binding of penetratin to gel-phase DMPC/DMPG followed a two-state model.
• The binding of short-form penetratin to POPC/POPG followed a two-state model.
• New insight into the membrane-penetrating property of penetratin