Interactions of voltage-sensing dyes with membranes. II. Spectrophotometric and electrical correlates of cyanine-dye adsorption to membranes.

The adsorption to bilayer membranes of the thiadicarbocyanine dyes, diSCn(5), has been studied as a function of the membrane's surface-charge density, the aqueous ionic strength, and the length (n) of the hydrocarbon side chain of the dye. "Probe" measurements in planar bilayers, microelectrophoresis of liposomes, and measurement of changes in dye absorbance and fluorescence in liposomes were used to study dye adsorption to membranes. These measurements indicated that the membrane:water partition coefficient for the dye monomer increases with the length of the hydrocarbon side chain. However, the formation of large aggregates in the aqueous phase also increases with increasing chain length and ionic strength so that the actual dye adsorbing to the membrane goes through a maximum at high but not at low ionic strengths. More dye adsorbs to negatively charged than neutral membranes. Membrane-bound dye spectra were easily resolved in negatively charged liposomes where it was observed that these dyes could exist as monomers, dimers, and large aggregates. For diSC1(5) a spectral peak was observed at low but not high ionic strengths (i.e. the conditions in which this dye appears to form voltage-gated channels) corresponding to small aggregates which appeared to adsorb to the membrane. Finally, the adsorption of these dyes to membranes results in more positive electrostatic potentials composed primarily of dye-induced "boundary" potentials and somewhat less of "double-layer" potentials.     

Contribution of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions of bitter substances with taste receptor membranes to generation of receptor potentials

The effects of changed ionic environments on the frog taste nerve responses to the bitter substances were examined. The responses to quinine and strychnine carrying a positive charge were suppressed by an increase in ionic strength of stimulating solutions. It was concluded that electrostatic interaction of these positive bitter substances with the receptor membranes greatly contributes to the adsorption of the substances on the membranes and that this interaction was suppressed by an increase in ionic strength. The responses to neutral bitter substances (caffeine and theophylline) were unchanged by an increase in salt concentration. The zeta potential of the mouse neuroblastoma (N-18 clone), which was depolarized by various bitter substances similarly to a taste cell, was measured in the presence of the bitter substances. The zeta potential was a little changed by quinine and practically unchanged by strychnine, caffeine and theophylline. The membrane fluidity of the N-18 cell monitored with 2-(9-anthroyloxy)stearic acid was changed in response to the bitter substances, while the fluidity monitored with 12-(9-anthroyloxy)stearic acid or 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was unchanged. This suggested that the bitter substances are adsorbed on the hydrophobic region near the surface and induce a conformational change at the region. The depolarization by the bitter substances seems to stem from changes in the “boundary potential” at the region near the surface within the membrane interior.     

Measurements of the potential difference during adsorption of phloretin and fluorescein on the surface of lipid membranes using the method of inner field compensation

The inner field compensation method was used for the measurement of the boundary dipole potentials as a function of phloretin and fluorescein concentration, ionic strength and pH. These potentials were compared with calculated from the conductance change in the presence of nonactin. Both methods gave similar results for fluorescein, but the steady-state potentials in the case of phloretin, obtained by the first method were smaller. These results imply that fluorescein, being introduced on one side of the BLM, remained on that side contrary to phloretin which penetrated through the membrane and partitioned between its both boundaries.     

Temperature- and ionic strength-induced conformational changes in the lipid head group region of liposomes as suggested by zeta potential data.

Neutral liposomes composed of DMPC (dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine), DPPC (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine) or DSPC (distearoylphosphatidylcholine) are found to exhibit non-zero zeta potentials in an electric field even when they are dispersed in solution at pH 7.4. A model for the orientation of lipid head groups is proposed to explain the observed non-zero zeta potentials. The dependence of the zeta potential on temperature and ionic strength is analyzed via this model to obtain the information on the direction of the lipid head group in the liposome surface region. The direction of the lipid head group is found to be sensitive to the temperature and the ionic strength of the medium. At low ionic strengths, the phosphatidyl groups are located at the outer portion of the head group region. At constant temperature, as the ionic strength increases, the choline group approaches the outer region of the bilayer surface while the phosphatidyl group hides behind the surface. At the phase transition temperature of the lipid, the phosphatidyl group lies in the outer-most region of the surface and the choline group is in the inner-most region.     

The electrophoretic properties and aggregation of mouse lymphoma cells, chinese-hamster fibroblasts and a somatic-cell hybrid.

1. The electrophoretic mobilities of a mouse lymphoma cell, a Chinese-hamster fibroblast and a somatic-cell hybrid (also fibroblastic), produced by fusion of the hamster cell and a mouse lymphoma cell, were measured at 25 degrees C over a range of pH, concentration of Ca2+ ions and concentration of La3+ ions. 2. All the cells have pI at pH3.5. 3. Ca2+ ions decrease the mobilities and zeta potentials of the cells to zero in the range 1-100mM. 4. La3+ ions lower the mobilities and zeta potentials in the range 10 muM-1 mM, and the cells become positively charged above 1 mM. 5. The data are consistent with specific adsorption of La3+ ions on approx. 2 X 10(14) sites/m2 of cell surface with a free energy of approx. -37kJ/mol. 6. The effects of Ca2+, La3+ and ionic strength on the extent of aggregation of the cells and of neuraminidase-treated cells were studied. 7. Ca2+ ions do not markedly increase aggregation, whereas La3+ ions gave rise to extensive aggregation in the range 10 muM-1 mM, corresponding to the region of La3+ adsorption. 8. Both fibroblastic cell lines are aggregated at high ionic strength. 9. The fibroblastic cells have larger amounts of trypsin-sensitive carbohydrate than does the lymphoma cell; the possible role of this material in cellular aggregation is discussed.     

Hydrophobic and electrostatic cell surface properties of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons and microelectrophoresis were investigated in order to characterize the surface properties of Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocysts exhibited low removal rates by octane (only 20% on average), suggesting that the Cryptosporidium sp. does not demonstrate marked hydrophobic properties. A zeta potential close to -25 mV at pH 6 to 6.5 in deionized water was observed for the parasite. Measurements of hydrophobicity and zeta potential were performed as a function of pH and ionic strength or conductivity. Hydrophobicity maxima were observed at extreme pH values, with 40% of adhesion of oocysts to octane. It also appeared that ionic strength (estimated by conductivity) could influence the hydrophobic properties of oocysts. Cryptosporidium oocysts showed a pH-dependent surface charge, with zeta potentials becoming less negative as pH was reduced, starting at -35 mV for alkaline pH and reaching 0 at isoelectric points for pH 2.5. On the other hand, variation of surface charge with respect to conductivity of the suspension tested in this work was quite small. The knowledge of hydrophobic properties and surface charge of the parasite provides information useful in, for example, the choice of various flocculation treatments, membrane filters, and cleaning agents in connection with oocyst recovery.     

Effect of the medium on functional and structural properties of serum albumins. IV. The state of human serum albumin in the pH range from 5 to 10

In order to investigate the effects of temperature and ionic strength on the N-B-transition and the alkaline denaturation of the human serum albumin, the pH-dependences of fluorescence position and relative yield of Trp-24 and of protein bound dye ANS were measured. The measurements were carried out at temperatures from 10 to 45 degrees C and ionic strengths (NaCl) from 0.001 to 0.2. The pH-induced structural transitions have different realization in environments of tryptophanyl and tightly bound ANS. The alkaline denaturation does not change the Trp-214 fluorescence. The N-B-transition gives rise to the slight polarity and/or mobility lowering in the Trp-214 environment (the shorter-wave-length spectral shift). Increase in the temperature and ionic strength induces the shift of the transition midpoint from ca. 8 to 8.7 and reduces the spectral shift amplitude. At low ionic strengths, the new structural transition in the Trp-214 environment is observed at pH change from 6.7 to 5.7. This transition is not observable using ANS fluorescence. The N-B-transition is accompanied by an enhancement and longer-wavelength shift of the ANS fluorescence spectra. The transition midpoint is independent of temperature, but is shifted to lower pH values at a decrease of ionic strength value. At ionic strengths less than or equal to 0.01 the shorter-wavelength spectral shift is seen at pH from 7.5 to 9, which seems to reflect the disulfide B-A-isomerisation. The alkaline denaturation gives rise to the sharp quenching of ANS fluorescence, probably due to the ANS binding site decomposition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ionic strength has a greater effect than does transmembrane electric potential difference on permeation of tryptamine and indoleacetic acid across Caco-2 cells

The effects of transmembrane electric potential difference and ionic strength on the permeation of tryptamine and indoleacetic acid across a Caco-2 cell monolayer were examined. A decrease in the transmembrane electric potential difference caused by the addition of potassium ion to the transport buffer had no effect on the permeation rate of either compound. On the other hand, an increase in ionic strength resulted in a decrease in the permeation rate of tryptamine and an increase in the permeation rate of indoleacetic acid. The changes in the permeation rate with changes in the ionic strength were correlated with the membrane surface potential monitored by 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS), a fluorescent probe. We tested these effects using several other cationic and anionic compounds. These effects of ionic strength were found to be common to all drugs tested. The compound that showed a relatively lower permeation rate was given relatively stronger effect. The possibility of overestimation or underestimation caused by these effects should be considered when the permeation of an ionic compound is evaluated using a cell monolayer system.     

Ionic strength has a greater effect than does transmembrane electric potential difference on permeation of tryptamine and indoleacetic acid across Caco-2 cells

The effects of transmembrane electric potential difference and ionic strength on the permeation of tryptamine and indoleacetic acid across a Caco-2 cell monolayer were examined. A decrease in the transmembrane electric potential difference caused by the addition of potassium ion to the transport buffer had no effect on the permeation rate of either compound. On the other hand, an increase in ionic strength resulted in a decrease in the permeation rate of tryptamine and an increase in the permeation rate of indoleacetic acid. The changes in the permeation rate with changes in the ionic strength were correlated with the membrane surface potential monitored by 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS), a fluorescent probe. We tested these effects using several other cationic and anionic compounds. These effects of ionic strength were found to be common to all drugs tested. The compound that showed a relatively lower permeation rate was given relatively stronger effect. The possibility of overestimation or underestimation caused by these effects should be considered when the permeation of an ionic compound is evaluated using a cell monolayer system.     

Stabilized nanocarriers for plasmids based upon cross-linked poly(ethylene imine)

Stabilized PEI/DNA polyplexes were generated by cross-linking PEI with biodegradable disulfide bonds. The reaction conversion of different PEIs with the amine reactive cross-linker dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate) (DSP) was investigated, and the molecular weight of the reaction products was identified. Light scattering and microelectrophoresis were employed to assess size and zeta potential of the resulting polyplexes. Polyplex morphology and mechanic stability were investigated using atomic force microscopy. Finally, albumin and erythrocyte interactions and stability against polyanions and high ionic strength were checked. Polyplexes of PEI and DNA were prepared by two different formulation methods, either using pre-cross-linked polymers or by cross-linking polyplexes after complexation. Only the latter method yielded small (100-300 nm) polyplexes with a positive zeta potential when HMW PEI was used, whereas cross-linked LMW PEI resulted in polyplexes with increased size (>1000 nm) and zeta potentials down to -20 mV. In addition, only cross-linking after polyplex formation was able to enhance resistance against polyanion exchange and high ionic strength. AFM images revealed no changes in the morphology of cross-linked HWM PEI polyplexes, and indentation force measurements using AFM significantly increased mechanical stability of cross-linked HMW PEI polyplexes. These polyplexes also displayed significantly reduced interactions with major blood components like albumin and erythrocytes. The resulting biocompatible particles offer a means of combining enhanced polyplex stability with redox-triggered activation for in vivo application.     

Interfacial phenomena governing adhesion of chlorella to glass surfaces

Interfacial phenomena are directly involved in the adhesion of a strain of Chlorella, a unicellular alga, to glass surfaces in simple ionic solutions. The principal mechanisms governing the adhesion appear to be electrostatic interaction between electrical double layers and various specific surface interactions resulting from surface heterogeneity and ion adsorption. Under most conditions the algal cells and glass surfaces have negative zeta potentials, and adhesion to glass will not occur; but if, for example, FeCl₃ is added to an algal–glass system immersed in 0.05M NaCl, the algal and glass surfaces will possess very different zeta potentials, and adhesion will be strongest under those conditions which produce the greatest, difference in zeta poentials. Prior pretreatment and usage of glass apparatus greatly affect the glass zeta potentials and the adhesion of algal cells to glass. An apparatus for measuring a relative set of numbers representing the force of adhesion of algal cells is described.     

Asymmetric electrostatic effects on the gating of rat brain sodium channels in planar lipid membranes.

The effects of ionic strength (10-1,000 mM) on the gating of batrachotoxin-activated rat brain sodium channels were studied in neutral and in negatively charged lipid bilayers. In neutral bilayers, increasing the ionic strength of the extracellular solution, shifted the voltage dependence of the open probability (gating curve) of the sodium channel to more positive membrane potentials. On the other hand, increasing the intracellular ionic strength shifted the gating curve to more negative membrane potentials. Ionic strength shifted the voltage dependence of both opening and closing rate constants of the channel in analogous ways to its effects on gating curves. The voltage sensitivities of the rate constants were not affected by ionic strength. The effects of ionic strength on the gating of sodium channels reconstituted in negatively charged bilayers were qualitatively the same as in neutral bilayers. However, important quantitative differences were noticed: in low ionic strength conditions (10-150 mM), the presence of negative charges on the membrane surface induced an extra voltage shift on the gating curve of sodium channels in relation to neutral bilayers. It is concluded that: (a) asymmetric negative surface charge densities in the extracellular (1e-/533A2) and intracellular (1e-/1,231A2) sides of the sodium channel could explain the voltage shifts caused by ionic strength on the gating curve of the channel in neutral bilayers. These surface charges create negative electric fields in both the extracellular and intracellular sides of the channel. Said electric fields interfere with gating charge movements that occur during the opening and closing of sodium channels; (b) the voltage shifts caused by ionic strength on the gating curve of sodium channels can be accounted by voltage shifts in both the opening and closing rate constants; (c) net negative surface charges on the channel's molecule do not affect the intrinsic gating properties of sodium channels but are essential in determining the relative position of the channel's gating curve; (d) provided the ionic strength is below 150 mM, the gating machinery of the sodium channel molecule is able to sense the electric field created by surface changes on the lipid membrane. I propose that during the opening and closing of sodium channels, the gating charges involved in this process are asymmetrically displaced in relation to the plane of the bilayer. Simple electrostatic calculations suggest that gating charge movements are influenced by membrane electrostatic potentials at distances of 48 and 28 A away from the plane of the membrane in the extracellular sides of the channel, respectively.     

The effect of the medium on the functional and structural properties of serum albumins. III. Relation between the N-F1-, F1-F2- and F2-E transitions of human serum albumin and temperature and ionic strength

Using fluorescence parameters of tryptophanyl and bound ANS, the acid-induced structural transitions of defatted monomeric human serum albumin were measured as pH-dependences from 6 to 2.5 in the wide range of temperature (10 to 45 degrees C) and ionic strength (from 0.001 to 0.2 M NaCl or 0.067 M Na2SO4). Temperature rise and decrease in ionic strength value result in the splitting of the N-F-transition onto two stages, N-F1 and F1-F2. The N-F1-transition is accompanied by the blue shift of tryptophanyl and ANS fluorescence spectra and increase in the ANS emission yield. The F1-F2-stage is manifested in an additional blue spectral shift and a sharp drop of the ANS emission yield, which is shown to be due to the lowering of albumin affinity for the dye. In the acidic-extension stage (F2-E), the spectra undergo a red shift which means that the nanosecond dipole relaxation of protein groups and bound water becomes faster. In the F2 from, the albumin affinity for ANS is significantly lowered; the association constant of the primary binding site is lower by an order of quantity and two secondary sites are practically disappeared. The complex effect of temperature, ionic strength and pH changes on the properties of ANS-binding sites is considered as a model of possible control influences of these factors upon the albumin transport of amphiphilic anions in organism.     

The influence of diffusion potentials across liposomal membranes on the fluorescence intensity of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonate

The influence of diffusion potentials across different phospholipid membranes on the fluorescence intensity of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulphonate (ANS) was studied. With liposomes or chloroform spheres covered with a monolayer of egg lecithin, no specific effects were found. With liposomes of soy-bean phospholipids, generation of a diffusion potential leads to an enhancement or decrease, depending on the direction of the potential, of the intensity of ANS fluorescence. This effect is mainly due to a change in quantum yield of the bound ANS. These data support a mechanism according to which ANS molecules are pushed into or pulled out of the membrane by a potential, but not an electrophoretic one in which the potential causes movement of ANS across the membrane.     

Effect of carbonylcyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) on the interaction of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) with phosphatidylcholine liposomes

The weak hydrophobic acid carbonylcyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) is a protonophoric uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. It dissipates the electrochemical proton gradient (Δμ_H ⁺) increasing the mitochondrial oxygen consumption. However, at concentrations higher than 1 μM it exhibits additional effects on mitochondrial energy metabolism, which were tentatively related to modifications of electrical properties of the membrane. Here we describe the effect of FCCP on the binding of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) to 1, 2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) unilamellar vesicles. FCCP inhibited the binding of ANS to liposomes either in the gel or in the liquid crystalline phase, by increasing the apparent dissociation constant of ANS. Smaller effect on the dissociation constant was observed at high ionic strength, suggesting that the effect of FCCP is through modification of the electrostatic properties of the membrane interface. In addition, FCCP also decreased (approximately 50 %) the quantum yield and increased the intrinsic dissociation constant of membrane-bound ANS, results that suggest that FCCP makes the environment of the ANS binding sites more polar. On those grounds we postulate that the binding of FCCP: i) increases the density of negative charges in the membrane surface; and ii) distorts the phospholipid bilayer, increasing the mobility of the polar headgroups making the ANS binding site more accessible to water.     

Experimental and functional changes in transmembrane potential and zeta potential of single cultured cells

Experiments were performed on single cells to investigate the relations between the total bioelectrical potential difference (PD) across the cell membrane (so-called transmembrane potential) and the net negative surface charge of the cell (zeta potential). The experiments were carried out on FL-cells, leucocytes and ovarian tumour cells. The PD was measured electrophysiologically by means of intracellular glass microelectrodes; the surface charge or the zeta potential was determined using cell electrophoresis. Both measuring methods are critically discussed.Under different conditions (hypothermia, hyperthermia, mitotic blocking agent, cell cycle), the transmembrane potential and zeta potential showed changes in an identical direction and often the response of transmembrane potential was found to be quicker and more intensive than that of the zeta potential. In other experiments (e.g. changing the extracellular Cl^? ion concentration) the reactions of both potentials showed no coincidence. Depending on the type of functionally or experimentally borne changes on the cytoplasmatic membrane, either both potentials or only one of them may be altered.     

Interaction of 1-anilinonaphthalene 8-sulfonic acid with interfaces containing cerebrosides, sulfatides and gangliosides

The fluorescence lifetime, quantum yield and emission spectra of 1-anilinonaphthalene 8-sulfonic acid (ANS) associated with interfaces of pure dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine or its mixtures with phosphatidylserine, galactosylceramide, sulfatide or gangliosides GM1 and GD1a were studied at low and high ionic strength. Modification of the molecular organization of the lipid interfaces in the presence of the probe was also studied with mixed lipid monolayers. ANS has little affect on the intermolecular packing of the lipids but influences their surface potential, consistent with a location of ANS in the polar head group region of the interface. ANS senses a more polar microenvironment when associated with interfaces containing anionic glycosphingolipids at low ionic strength but, except for interfaces containing phosphatidylserine, it detects approximately the same polarity for neutral or anionic interfaces in 0.25 M NaCl.     

Oligotryptophan-tagged antimicrobial peptides and the role of the cationic sequence

The effects of varying the cationic sequence of oligotryptophan-tagged antimicrobial peptides were investigated in terms of peptide adsorption to model lipid membranes, liposome leakage induction, and antibacterial potency. Heptamers of lysine (K7) and arginine (R7) were lytic against Escherichia coli bacteria at low ionic strength. In parallel, both peptides adsorbed on to bilayers formed by E. coli phospholipids, and caused leakage in the corresponding liposomes. K7 was the more potent of the two peptides in causing liposome leakage, although the adsorption of this peptide on E. coli membranes was lower than that of R7. The bactericidal effect, liposome lysis, and membrane adsorption were all substantially reduced at physiological ionic strength. When a tryptophan pentamer tag was linked to the C-terminal end of these peptides, substantial peptide adsorption, membrane lysis, and bacterial killing were observed also at high ionic strength, and also for a peptide of lower cationic charge density (KNKGKKN-W5). Strikingly, the order of membrane lytic potential of the cationic peptides investigated was reversed when tagged. This and other aspects of peptide behavior and adsorption, in conjunction with effects on liposomes and bacteria, suggest that tagged and untagged peptides act by different lytic mechanisms, which to some extent counterbalance each other. Thus, while the untagged peptides act by generating negative curvature strain in the phospholipid membrane, the tagged peptides cause positive curvature strain. The tagged heptamer of arginine, R7W5, was the best candidate for E. coli membrane lysis at physiological salt conditions and proved to be an efficient antibacterial agent.     

The Influence of pH and Ionic Strength on the Electrokinetic Stability of the Human Erythrocyte Membrane

The electrokinetic stability of washed normal human erythrocytes is discussed from the point of view of pH, ionic strength, and composition of the suspending medium. Many of the electrophoretic characteristics at low ionic strengths (sorbitol to maintain the tonicity), such as the isopotential points, are shown to arise principally from adsorption of hemolysate. The concept of electrokinetically stable, metastable, and unstable states for the red cell at various ionic strengths is introduced in preference to the general term "cell injury." In the stable state which exists around pH 7.4 for ionic strengths >0.007, no adsorption of hemolysate occurs, in the metastable state reversible adsorption of hemolysate occurs, and in the unstable state, in which ionic strengths and pH ranges are outside the metastable range, the membrane undergoes irreversible hemolysate adsorption or more general hydrolytic degradation. It is deduced from the equivalent binding of CNS, I, Cl, and F, the pH mobility relationships, and the conformation of the ionic strength data in the stable state to a Langmuir adsorption isotherm, that the membrane of the human erythrocyte behaves as a macropolyanion whose properties are modified by gegen ion association and in some instances by hemolysate adsorption. The experimental results are insufficient to establish conclusively the nature of the ionogenic groupings present in the membrane interphase.     

Interaction of the organic anion 1-aniline 8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) with isolated rat hepatocytes

The interaction of ANS with rat hepatocytes in time was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The intercept of the first linear portion of the time curve of interaction showed a positive value over all the ANS concentration range employed. This value was maintained after cellular disruption by homogenization. It was affected by ionic strength, pH, and divalent cation in the incubation medium, all conditions affecting the cellular surface. These data suggest that this phenomenon might be a binding of the compound to the hepatocytes surface. Due to the time constant and its disappearance after cellular disruption the other slower component of the curve seems to correspond to a process of translocation across the membrane.