The binding of melittin to a range of phospholipid bilayers was studied using dual polarisation interferometry and atomic force microscopy. The phospholipid model membranes included zwitterionic dimyristylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), together with mixtures of DMPC/dimyristylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) and DMPC/DMPG/cholesterol. Melittin caused significant disruption on all bilayers, but differences in morphological changes during binding were different on each membrane. Overall, the results demonstrate that the process of membrane disruption follows distinct structural changes for different lipid mixtures irrespective of the strength of binding to the membrane surface. The binding of melittin to different phospholipid bilayers was studied using dual polarisation interferometry and atomic force microscopy. Melittin caused significant disruption on all bilayers, but the results demonstrate that membrane disruption follows distinct structural changes for different lipid mixtures irrespective of the strength of binding to the membrane surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]