Role of Water in Proton-Hydroxide Conductance Across Model and Biological Membranes.

Abstract

The goal of this research is to understand the barrier properties of lipid bilayers, and particularly the role of transient defects in providing pathways for ion flux. Our approach is to compare proton and potassium flux, using membrane perturbants to probe the barrier. We have found that perturbants such as n-alkanols and diols cause increments in cation flux, which can be used to predict anesthetic effects. The increments are caused by increased numbers of hydrated defects, and we have used the gramicidin channel to test properties of transmembrane strands of hydrogen bonded water which would model such defects. Keywords: Ion transport; Membranes (biology).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 10, 1987
Accession Number
ADA186577

Entities

People

  • David W. Deamer

Organizations

  • University of California, Davis

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biology
  • Chemical Compounds
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Heavy Water
  • Hydrogen
  • Lipids
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Military Research
  • Molecules
  • Physical Properties
  • Potassium
  • Security
  • Synapses
  • Systems Biology

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry