Valinomycin-mediated ion transport through neutral lipid membranes: Influence of hydrocarbon chain length and temperature

Summary

Stationary electrical conductance experiments together with nonstationary relaxation experiments allow a quantitative determination of rate constants describing carrier-mediated ion transport. Valinomycin-induced ion transport across neutral lipid membranes was studied. The dependence of the transport parameters on the chain length of the lipid molecules, on the kind of alkali ion, and on the temperature was determined. The relaxation time τ the current following a voltage jump shows a marked increase with decreasing temperature or with increasing chain length of the lipid molecules. This variation of τ is interpreted on the basis of a varying membrane fluidity. It is shown that under favorable circumstances the equilibrium constant of complex formation in the aqueous phase may be obtained from membrane experiments. Furthermore, the kinetics of exchange of valinomycin between membrane and water was studied. We found a marked influence of the totus surrounding the black film on the kinetics as well as on the total amount of valinomycin molecules in the membrane. The problem of location of the free carrier molecules inside the membrane is discussed.