| Abstract
| - Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) and two-dimensional protein assemblies formed on solid supports ofvarious roughnesses were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The presence of SLBs wasdetected reliably by force measurements and by imaging. Three types of responses could be distinguisheddepending on the applied loads. These responses are interpreted as due to transient restructuration of thelipid assembly in the region of contact between lipid-covered support and AFM tip, driven by hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions. Two-dimensional crystals of streptavidin could be resolved on SLBs formed onsilicon wafers, whereas annexin A5, previously shown to crystallize on mica-SLBs, formed a close-packednoncrystalline assembly on lipid bilayers supported by silicon wafers.
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