Gemini amphiphiles having two peptide lipid units and a spacer group connected at the polar heads were synthesized. A gemini peptide lipid bearing L-histidyl residues, hydrophobic double-chain segments, and a tri(oxyethylene) spacer performed as an inducer of the reversible assembling of liposomal membranes through ditopic ion recognition toward transition metal ions and alkali metal ions. The vesicular assembling behavior induced by the gemini peptide lipids was sensitive to the structural difference in the amino acid residue and the spacer group of the lipids. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.