  We calculate configuration energies of string-like membranes in M2- and
M5-brane spaces. In the near horizon approximation these backgrounds reduce to
$AdS_4\times S^7$ and $AdS_7\times S^4$ spaces and the dual theories are
supersymmetric $SU(N)$ gauge theories, in accordance with the AdS/CFT
correspondence. In this case the string-like configuration energy is identified
with the quark and anti-quark energy interaction in the dual theories. Far from
the horizon the dual theory is more involved but any how we were able to
calculate the string-like configuration energy. For limiting regimes we find
simpler solutions for which some potentials exhibit a confinement behavior
while others are non-confining.
