The lipid environment of the glucagon receptor regulates adenylate cyclase activity.

1. The lipids composition of rat liver plasma membranes was substantially altered by introducing synthetic phosphatidylcholines into the membrane by the techniques of lipid substitution or lipid fusion. 40-60% of the total lipid pool in the modified membranes consisted of a synthetic phosphatidylcholine. 2. Lipid substitution, using cholate to equilibrate the lipid pools, resulted in the irreversible loss of a major part of the adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by F-, GMP-P(NH)P or glucagon. However, fusion with presonicated vesicles of the synethic phosphatidylcholines causes only small losses in adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by the same ligands. 3. The linear form of the Arrhenius plots of adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by F- or GMP-(NH)P was unaltered in all of the membrane preparations modified by substitution or fusion, with very similar activation energies to those observed with the native membrane. The activity of the enzyme therefore appears to be very insensitive to its lipid environment when stimulated by F- or gmp-p(nh)p. 4. in contrast, the break at 28.5 degrees C in the Arrhenius plot of adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by glucagon in the native membrane, was shifted upwards by dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, downwards by dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine, and was abolished by dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine. Very similar shifts in the break point were observed for stimulation by glucagon or des-His-glucagon in combination with F- or GMP-P(NH)P. The break temperatures and activation energies for adenylate cyclase activity were the same in complexes prepared with a phosphatidylcholine by fusion or substitution. 5. The breaks in the Arrhenius plots of adenylate cyclase activity are attributed to lipid phase separations which are shifted in the modified membranes according to the transition temperature of the synthetic phosphatidylcholine. Coupling the receptor to the enzyme by glucagon or des-His-glucagon renders the enzyme sensitive to the lipid environment of the receptor. Spin-label experiments support this interpretation and suggest that the lipid phase separation at 28.5 degrees C in the native membrane may only occur in one half of the bilayer.     

Catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase of caudate nucleus and cerebral cortex. Effects of guanine nucleotides.

1. GTP and GMP-P(NH)P (guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate) were observed to increase the stimulation of neural adenylate cyclase by dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) and noradrenaline. 2. GMP-P(NH)P had a biphasic effect on the enzyme activity. 3. Preincubation of membranes with GMP-P(NH)P activated the enzyme by a process dependent on time and temperature. Catecholamines increased the speed and the extent of this activation. 4. Membrane fractions contained high- and low-affinity sites for GMP-P(NH)P binding: this binding was due to protein(s) of the membrane preparations. 5. Low-affinity-site binding of GMP-P(NH)P appeared to be related to the stimulatory effect on the adenylate cyclase activity.     

Mechanism of molybdate activation of adenylate cyclase

Molybdate activation of rat liver plasma membrane adenylate cyclase has been examined and compared with the effect of glucagon, Gpp(NG)p and fluoride. Glucagon does not stimulate the detergent solubilized enzyme, though molybdate, fluoride, and Gpp(NH)p are effective in this regard. The stimulatory effects of either fluoride or molybdate are additive with those of GTP and do not require guanyl nucleotide to evoke their activation. Neither fluoride nor molybdate can substitute for GTP when glucagon is the activator of rat liver adenylate cyclase. The stimulatory effects of either ion on adenylate cyclase are additive with that produced by glucagon. Activation of adenylate cyclase by either molybdate or fluoride occurs by a mechanism distinct from that of glucagon or guanyl nucleotide. The data presented here suggest that fluoride and molybdate may act via a similar mechanism of action. Neither ion displays a lag in activation of adenylate cyclase. The pH profiles of fluoride and molybdate-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity are similar, and distinct from guanyl nucleotide-stimulated activity. Cholera toxin treatment of adenylate cyclase blocks fluoride and molybdate stimulation of the enzyme to the same extent, while enhancing the activation obtained with GTP and hormones.     

Human fat cell adenylate cyclase. Enzyme characterization and guanine nucleotide effects on epinephrine responsiveness in cell membranes.

Human adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1) has been studied in preparations of fat cell membranes ("ghosts"). As reported earlier, under ordinary assay conditions (1.0 mM ATP, 5 mM Mg2+, 30 degrees C, 10 min incubation) the enzyme was activated 6-fold by epinephrine in the presence of the GTP analog, 5'-guanylyl-imidodiphosphate [GMP-P(NH)P] (Cooper, B. et al. (1975) J. Clin. Invest. 56, 1350-1353). Basal activity was highest during the first 2 min of incubation then slowed and was linear for at least the next 18 min. Epinephrine, added alone, was often without effect. but sometimes maintained the initial high rate of basal activity. GMP-P(NH)P alone produced inhibition ("lag") of basal enzyme early in the incubation periods. Augmentation of epinephrine effect by GMP-P(NH)P, which also proceeded after a brief (2 min) lag period, was noted over a wide range of substrate (ATP) concentrations. GTP inhibited basal levels of the enzyme by about 50%. GTP also allowed expression of an epinephrine effect, but only in the sense that the hormone abolished the inhibition by GTP. Occasionally a slight stimulatory effect on epinephrine action was seen with GTP. At high Mg2+ concentration (greater than 10 mM) or elevated temperatures (greater than 30 degrees C) GMP-P(NH)P alone activated the enzyme. Maximal activity of human fat cell adenylate cyclase was seen at 50 mM Mg2+, 1.0 mM ATP, pH 8.2, and 37 degrees C in the presence of 10(-4) M GMP-P(NH)P; under these conditions addition of epinephrine did not further enhance activity. Human fat cell adenylate cyclase of adults was insensitive to ACTH and glucagon even in the presence of GMP-P(NH)P.     

Mechanism of glucagon activation of adenylate cyclase in the presence of Mn2+

For a variety of ligand states, adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of Mn2+ was greater than with Mg2+. Trypsin treatment of intact hepatocytes, under conditions which destroy cell surface glucagon receptors, led to a first order loss of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in isolated membranes assayed in the presence of Mn2+ whether or not GTP (100 microM) was present in the assays. Arrhenius plots of basal activity exhibited a break at around 22 degrees C, those with NaF were linear and those with glucagon +/- GTP (100 microM) were biphasic with a break at around 28 degrees C. It is suggested that Mn2+ perturbs the coupling interaction between the glucagon receptor and catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase at the level of the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. This appears to take the form of Mn2+ preventing GTP from initiating glucagon's activation of adenylate cyclase through a collision coupling mechanism.     

Regulation of adenylate cyclase in two rat liver cell lines, 3C4 and 62.

Adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) activities were examined in membrane preparations from two rat liver cell lines (62 and 3C4) which were grown in monolayer cultures. The cells were epithelial-like in growth character. Adenylate cyclase from the line 62 was stimulated by epinephrine, Gpp(NH)p, and prostaglandins A1,A2,E1,E2, and F2alpha, but not by glucagon. Arrhenius plots of adenylate cylase activity from line 62 gave straight lines, except when epinephrine was present in the assay; epinephrine-stimulated activity gave a distinct break at 20 degrees C. Adenylate cyclase activity in line 3C4 was stimulated by glucagon ten times greater than by epinephrine. It was responsive to Gpp(NH)p and all the prostaglandins. Arrhenius plots of adenylate cyclase activity of line 3C4 always gave straight line curves. Prostaglandins flattened the straight line curves (allowed temperature independence) of adenylate cyclase activity in membranes from both cell lines.     

Photolysis of water coupled to nitrate reduction by Nostoc muscorum subcellular particles.

The binding of tritiated guanylylimidodiphosphate ([³H]GMP-P(NH)P) to turkey erythrocyte ghosts was studied in parallel with the activation by GMP-P(NH)P of adenylate cyclase. The high affinity binding capacity for GMP-P(NH)P, 50 pmoles per mg protein, exceeds the estimated quantity of adenylate cyclase of 1 pmole per mg of protein. The rate of nucleotide binding is not affected by isoproterenol. Further, in the presence of the hormone the rate of binding is much slower than the rate of activation. Although the rate of dissociation of bound [³H]GMP-P(NH)P is negligible at 37°, it is increased dramatically by unlabeled GMP-P(NH)P, GTP, EDTA, ATP, AMP-P(CH₂)P, or p-aminophenylmercuric acetate. In contrast, the rate of decay of the GMP-P(NH)P-simulated state is not altered by these agents. Thus, the major fraction of GMP-P(NH)P binding to membranes is not relevant to cyclase activation.     

The effect of temperature on the activity of the adenylate cyclase system of liver plasma membranes

The rat liver adenylate cyclase system shows a discontinuity in the Arrhenius plots at 20°C in the nonstimulated activity (basal) with activation energies of 16 and 28 Kcal/mole. The discontinuity disappears when the enzyme is stimulated either by glucagon, sodium fluoride, 5′ guanylyl-imidodiphosphate or glucagon plus 5′ guanylyl-imidodiphosphate and the energy of activation was the same with all the compounds tested. If the activator was initially in contact with the membranes at 0°C the energy of activation was similar to that observed below the break (26 Kcal/mole) but it changed to that above the break if the compound contacted the membranes at temperatures above the break (22–24°C). We discuss the possibility of two different conformations of the enzyme; both conformations can be “frozen” by any of the compounds tested, “isolating” the enzyme from any subsequent physical change of the membrane due to temperature.     

Coupling of glucagon receptor to adenylyl cyclase. Requirement of a receptor-related guanyl nucleotide binding site for coupling of receptor to the enzyme.

Effects of glucagon and guanyl nucleotides on the rat liver plasma membrane adenylyl cyclase were studied. It was established that: 1) glucagon stimulates the fully guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (GMP-P(NH)P)-activated enzyme between 20 and 70%, provided a guanyl nucleotide is present in the assay; 2) glucagon has no effect on adenylyl cyclase activity in membranes activated fully by GMP-P(NH)P and then washed free of nucleotides. It is concluded that occupancy of the guanyl nucleotide binding site that activates the catalytic moiety of the system is not sufficient to promote hormone-receptor coupling to adenylyl cyclase and that occupancy of a second site by guanyl nucleotides is essential to effect stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by the glucagon-receptor complex. The data presented raise the question whether the guanyl nucleotide site that promotes coupling is distinct from the guanyl nucleotide site that modulates binding of glucagon to receptor and whether the occupancy of the guanyl nucleotide site associated with the catalytic moiety is necessary for coupling.     

Stimulatory and inhibitory effects of guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate on adenylate cyclase activity of cardiac sarcolemma.

A nucleotide phosphohydrolase-resistant analog of GTP, guanyl-5′-yl imidodiphosphate [GMP-P(NH)P], caused stimulation of basal adenylate cyclase activity of cardiac sarcolemma when ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)- N,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) was absent in the assay mixture, whereas the nucleotide, in the presence of EGTA, inhibited basal cyclase activity. GTP, GDP, GMP, and guanosine failed to show such an inhibition of basal enzyme activity. The degree of both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of GMP-P(NH)P depended on the concentration of magnesium ions. The apparent affinities toward magnesium ions of the metal binding site and toward MgATP^2? of the catalytic site of control and ?GMP-P(NH)P-inhibited” enzyme were similar. Isoproterenol reversed the inhibitory effect, whereas calcium ions failed to revert it. Both in the presence and absence of EGTA, GMP-P(NH)P plus isoproterenol caused a synergistic stimulation of the enzyme activity, the degree of stimulation being lower with EGTA present. Exposure of sarcolemma to GMP-P(NH)P (with and without isoproterenol and in the absence and presence of EGTA) caused an activation of adenylate cyclase, the degree of activation being higher with isoproterenol present. The activated enzyme displayed increased affinity toward Mg²⁺ at the metal binding site. When activated enzyme preparations were assayed in the presence of EGTA, reversal of the activated state was observed in the case of the GMP-P(NH)P-activated enzyme but not in the case of the GMP-P(NH)P + isoproterenol-activated enzyme.     

Arrhenius plot characteristics of adipocyte-plasma-membrane adenylate cyclase activity in lean and genetically obese (ob/ob) mice

Arrhenius plots of fluoride- and guanine-nucleotide-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity were linear in adipocyte plasma membranes from lean and obese (ob/ob) mice . Arrhenius plots of isoprenaline-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in hepatic plasma membranes biphasic in both groups. The results were biphasic in membranes from Jean mice but linear in membranes from obese mice. In contrast, Arrhenius plots of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in hepatic plasma membranes were biphasic in both groups. The results suggest that the coupling between the -receptor and the regulatory unit of adenylate cyclase, which has been observed to be defective in adipocyte plasma membranes from obese mice, is influenced by a different lipid environment in membranes from obese animals.     

Effects of temperature and benzyl alcohol on the structure and adenylate cyclase activity of plasma membranes from bovine adrenal cortex

Adenylate cyclase activation by corticotropin (ACTH), fluoride and forskolin was studied as a function of membrane structure in plasma membranes from bovine adrenal cortex. The composition of these membranes was characterized by a very low cholesterol and sphingomyelin content and a high protein content. The fluorescent probes 1,6-diphenylhexa-1,3,5-triene (DPH) and a cationic analogue 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene (TMA-DPH) were, respectively, used to probe the hydrophobic and polar head regions of the bilayer. When both probes were embedded either in the plasma membranes or in liposomes obtained from their lipid extracts, they exhibited lifetime heterogeneity, and in terms of the order parameter S, hindered motion. Under all the experimental conditions tested, S was higher for TMA-DPH than for DPH but both S values decreased linearly with temperature within the range of 10 to 40 degrees C, in the plasma membranes and the liposomes. This indicated the absence of lipid phase transition and phase separation. Addition to the membranes of up to 100 mM benzyl alcohol at 20 degrees C also resulted in a linear decrease in S values. Membrane perturbations by temperature changes or benzyl alcohol treatment made it possible to distinguish between the characteristics of adenylate cyclase activation with each of the three effectors used. Linear Arrhenius plots showed that when adenylate cyclase activity was stimulated by forskolin or NaF, the activation energy was similar (70 kJ.mol-1). Fluidification of the membrane with benzyl alcohol concentrations of up to 100 mM at 12 or 24 degrees C produced a linear decrease in the forskolin-stimulated activity, that led to its inhibition by 50%. By contrast, NaF stabilized adenylate cyclase activity against the perturbations induced by benzyl alcohol at both temperatures. In the presence of ACTH, biphasic Arrhenius plots were characterized by a well-defined break at 18 degrees C, which shifted at 12.5 degrees C in the presence of 40 mM benzyl alcohol. These plots suggested that ACTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase exists in two different states. This hypothesis was supported by the striking difference in the effects of benzyl alcohol perturbation when experiments were performed below and above the break temperature. The present results are consistent with the possibility that clusters of ACTH receptors form in the membrane as a function of temperature and/or lipid phase fluidity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Quinidine and melittin both decrease the fluidity of liver plasma membranes and both inhibit hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity

Increasing concentrations of either quinidine or melittin gave a dose-dependent inhibition of both the glucagon- and fluoride-stimulated activities of adenylate cyclase in the liver plasma membranes. At similar concentrations these agents increased the order of liver plasma membranes as detected by a fatty acid ESR probe, doxyl stearic acid. This increase in bilayer order (decrease in 'fluidity') is suggested to explain the inhibitory action of quinidine on adenylate cyclase activity but only in part contributes to the inhibitory action of melittin on adenylate cyclase. Arrhenius plots of fluoride-stimulated activity became non-linear in the presence of either quinidine or melittin, with a single well-defined break occurring at around 12 degrees C in each instance. Arrhenius plots of the glucagon-stimulated activity also exhibited such a novel break at around 12 degrees C when either quinidine or melittin were present as well as exhibiting a break at around 28 degrees C, as was seen in the absence of these ligands. The fatty acid spin probe inserted into liver plasma membranes detected a novel lipid phase separation occurring at around 12 degrees C when either quinidine or melittin was present and showed that the lipid phase separation occurring at around 28 degrees C in native membranes was apparently unaffected by these ligands.     

Guanosine 5′-triphosphate and guanosine 5′-[βγ-imido]triphosphate effect a collision coupling mechanism between the glucagon receptor and catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase

1. GTP, but not p[NH]ppG (guanosine 5′-[βγ-imido]triphosphate), abolishes the sensitivity of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase to the lipid-phase separations occurring in the outer half of the bilayer in liver plasma membranes from rat. 2. When either GTP or p[NH]ppG alone stimulate adenylate cyclase, the enzyme senses only those lipid-phase separations occurring in the inner half of the bilayer. 3. Trypsin treatment of intact hepatocytes has no effect on the basal, fluoride-, GTP- or p[NH]ppG-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. However, ¹²⁵I-labelled-glucagon specific binding decays with a half-life matching that of the decay of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. 4. When GTP or p[NH]ppG are added to assays of glucagon-stimulated activity, the half-life of the trypsin-mediated decay of activity is substantially increased and the decay plots are no longer first-order. 5. Trypsin treatment of purified rat liver plasma membranes abolishes basal and all ligand-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, and ¹²⁵I-labelled-glucagon specific binding. 6. Benzyl alcohol activates the GTP- and p[NH]ppG-stimulated activities in an identical fashion, whereas these activities are affected differently when glucagon is present in the assays. 7. We suggest that guanine nucleotides alter the mode of coupling between the receptor and catalytic unit. In the presence of glucagon and GTP, a complex of receptor, catalytic unit and nucleotide regulatory protein occurs as a transient intermediate, releasing a free unstable active catalytic unit. In the presence of p[NH]ppG and glucagon, the transient complex yields a relatively stable complex of the catalytic unit associated with a p[NH]ppG-bound nucleotide-regulatory protein.     

Detergent-induced distinctions between fluoride- and vanadate-stimulated adenylate cyclases and their responses to guanine nucleotides

The influence of detergents on fluoride- and vanadate-stimulated adenylate cyclases was investigated with enzyme from liver and adipocyte plasma membranes. Stimulation of the adipocyte cyclase by Na3VO4 was maximal (sixfold) at 3 mM, was not additive with fluoride stimulation, and was readily reversed by washing of the membranes. Vanadate stimulation of the hepatic cyclase was specifically blocked by catechol, which had no effect on basal activity or on fluoride- or glucagon-stimulated activities. The hepatic enzyme, stimulated by fluoride ion, guanyl-5'-yl-(beta,gamma-imino)diphosphate (GPP(NH)P), or GPP(NH)P and glucagon, was inhibited by vanadate with 50% inhibition seen with 2 to 6 mM vanadate. The fluoride-activated adipocyte adenylate cyclase was inhibited by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio-triphosphate) (GTP gamma S) more potently than by GPP(NH)P, with 50% inhibition being seen with 10 nM GTP gamma S or 100 nM GPP(NH)P. These nucleotides also inhibited the vanadate-stimulated enzyme, but with one-third the potency seen with the fluoride-activated cyclase. Dispersion of the adipocyte cyclase by Lubrol-PX into a 30,000g supernatant fraction caused no change in activation of the enzyme by fluoride, but reduced vanadate-stimulated activity 80%. By comparison, this treatment enhanced stimulation by GPP(NH)P twofold and by GTP gamma S threefold. More importantly, perhaps, the treatment with detergent blocked inhibition of the basal enzyme by GTP, blocked inhibition of fluoride- and vanadate-stimulated cyclases by GTP, GPP(NH)P, or GTP gamma S, and rendered vanadate-stimulated activity sensitive to enhancement by guanine nucleotides. The data indicate differences in the actions of vanadate and fluoride, made evident by the influence of guanine nucleotides and detergent treatment. The observations would be consistent with the idea that the effects of vandate may be due to the formation of GDP X V on the enzyme. The data strongly suggest that treatment of adenylate cyclase with Lubrol-PX causes a functional blockade in the guanine nucleotide-dependent inhibitory regulation (mediated by Ni), thereby allowing activation by the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-dependent regulatory component (Ns).     

Essential role of GTP in the expression of adenylate cyclase activity after cholera toxin treatment.

Expression of activation of rat liver adenylate cyclase by the A1 peptide of cholera toxin and NAD is dependent on GTP. The nucleotide is effective either when added to the assay medium or during toxin (and NAD) treatment. Toxin treatment increases the Vmax for activation by GTP and the effect of GTP persists in toxin-treated membranes, a property seen in control membranes only with non-hydrolyzable analogs of GTP such as Gpp(NH)p. These observations could be explained by a recent report that cholera toxin acts to inhibit a GTPase associated with denylate cyclase. However, we have observed that one of the major effects of the toxin is to decrease the affinity of guanine nucleotides for the processes involved in the activation of adenylate cyclase and in the regulation of the binding of glucagon to its receptor. Moreover, the absence of lag time in the activation of adenylate cyclase by GTP, in contrast to by Gpp(NH)p, and the markedly reduced fluoride action after toxin treatment suggest that GTPase inhibition may not be the only action of cholera toxin on the adenylate cyclase system. We believe that the multiple effects of toxin action is a reflection of the recently revealed complexity of the regulation of adenylate cyclase by guanine nucleotides.     

The mode of action of chloride on rabbit heart adenylate cyclase

The mechanism by which chloride stimulates adenylate cyclase was investigated. Depletion of GDP increased basal adenylate cyclase activity and reduced the stimulation by isoprenaline. Restoration of bound GDP partially reversed these effects. Chloride stimulated cyclase activity by the same proportion in control, GDP-depleted and GDP-restored preparations, as did Gpp(NH)p. Fluoride increased adenylate cyclase activity to the same final level in both GDP-depleted and GDP-restored membranes; addition of Gpp(NH)p as well as fluoride had no further effect. Solubilisation of adenylate cyclase reduced the stimulatory effect of Gpp(NH)p only slightly, but greatly attenuated the activation by chloride. We conclude that chloride does not stimulate cyclase activity by an action on GDP exchange. Activation by chloride may be due to a disrupting or chaotropic effect on membrane/protein interactions.     

Changes in the form of Arrhenius plots of the activity of glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase and other hamster liver plasma-membrane enzymes occurring on hibernation.

1. Arrhenius plots of the glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase, 5'-nucleotidase, (Na+ + K+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase and Mg2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activities of control hamster liver plasma membranes exhibited two break points at around 25 and 13 degrees C, whereas Arrhenius plots of their activities in hibernating hamster liver plasma membranes exhibited two break points at around 25 and 4 degrees C. 2. A single break occurring between 25 and 26 degrees C was observed in Arrhenius plots of the activities of fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase, basal adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase of liver plasma membranes from both control and hibernating animals. 3. Arrhenius plots of phosphodiesterase I activity showed a single break at 13 degrees C for membranes from control animals, and a single break at around 4 degrees C for liver plasma membranes from hibernating animals. 4. The temperature at which break points occurred in Arrhenius plots of glucagon- and fluoride-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity were decreased by about 7--8 degrees C by addition of 40 mm-benzyl alcohol to the assays. 5. Discontinuities in the Arrhenius plots of 4-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonic acid fluorescence occurred at around 24 and 13 degrees C for liver plasma membranes from control animals, and at around 25 and 4 degrees C for membranes from hibernating animals. 6. We suggest that in hamster liver plasma membranes from control animals a lipid phase separation occurs at around 25 degrees C in the inner half of the bilayer and at around 13 degrees C in the outer half of the bilayer. On hibernation a change in bilayer asymmetry occurs, which is expressed by a decrease in the temperature at which the lipid phase separation occurs in the outer half of the bilayer to around 4 degrees C. The assumption made is that enzymes expressing both lipid phase separations penetrate both halves of the bilayer, whereas those experiencing a single break penetrate one half of the bilayer only.