The topic correlates electrostatic effects induced by polylysine (PL) adsorption at the lipid membrane surface with data of alternative methods sensitive to lipid bilayer structure. Comparison of electrokinetic data for liposomes from anionic lipids (cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine) and results of boundary potential (BP) measurements with lipid membranes shows effects in two opposite directions: fast positive changes of BP due to adsorption of polycations at the outer membrane surface and slow negative changes that can be attributed to alteration of the dipole component of BP. The latter effect does not depend on the polymer length and may be caused by lipid interaction with lysine as a basic unit of these polypeptides. Molecular dynamic simulation points out the possible mechanism of the dipole effect, which could be caused by reduced number of H-bonds to PO4 groups upon the lysine adsorption. Atomic force microscopy visualized the geometry of clusters formed by PL of different lengths at the lipid bilayer. Isotherm titration calorimetry and the technique of lipid monolayers reveal the similarity in polypeptide and inorganic multivalent cation effects on the lateral lipid condensation accompanied by dipole effects.