The contribution of magnetic susceptibility effects to transmembrane chemical shift differences in the 31P NMR spectra of oxygenated erythrocyte suspensions

Triethyl phosphate, dimethyl methylphosphonate, and the hypophosphite ion all contain the phosphoryl functional group. When added to an oxygenated erythrocyte suspension, the former compound gives rise to a single 31P NMR resonance, whereas the latter compounds give rise to separate intra- and extracellular 31P NMR resonances. On the basis of experiments with intact oxygenated cell suspensions (in which the hematocrit was varied) and with oxygenated cell lysates (in which the lysate concentration was varied), it was concluded that the chemical shifts of the intra- and extracellular populations of triethyl phosphate differ as a consequence of the diamagnetic susceptibility of intracellular oxyhemoglobin but that this difference is averaged by the rapid exchange of the compound across the cell membrane. The difference in the magnetic susceptibility of the intra- and extracellular compartments contributes to the observed separation of the intra- and extracellular resonances of dimethyl methylphosphonate and hypophosphite. The magnitude of this contribution is, however, substantially less than that calculated using a simple two-compartment model and varies with the hematocrit of the suspension. Furthermore, it is insufficient to fully account for the transmembrane chemical shift differences observed for dimethyl methylphosphonate and hypophosphite. An additional effect is operating to move the intracellular resonances of these compounds to a lower chemical shift. The effect is mediated by an intracellular component, and the magnitude of the resultant chemical shift variations depends upon the chemical structure of the phosphoryl compound involved.     

Difluorophosphate as a 19F NMR probe of erythrocyte membrane potential

Erythrocyte membrane potential can be estimated by measuring the transmembrane concentration (activity) distribution of a membrane-permeable ion. We present here the study of difluorophosphate (DFP) as a ¹⁹F NMR probe of membrane potential. This bicarbonate and phosphate analogue has a pK_a of 3.7±0.2 (SD, n = 4) and therefore exists almost entirely as a monovalent anion at physiological pH. When it is incorporated into red cell suspensions, it gives two well resolved resonances that arise from the intra- and extracellular populations; the intracellular resonance is shifted 130 Hz to higher frequency from that of the extracellular resonance. Hence the transmembrane distribution of DFP is readily assessed from a single ¹⁹F NMR spectrum and the membrane potential can be calculated using the Nernst equation. The membrane potential was independent of, DFP concentration in the range 4 to 59 mM, and haematocrit of the cell suspensions of 31.0 to 61.4%. The membrane potential determined by using DFP was 0.94±0.26 of that estimated from the transmembrane pH difference. The distribution ratios of intracellular/extracellular DFP were similar to those of the membrane potential probes, hypophosphite and trifluoroacetate. DFP was found to be transported across the membranes predominantly via the electrically-silent pathway mediated by capnophorin. Using magnetization transfer techniques, the membrane influx permeability-coefficient of cells suspended in physiological medium was determined to be 7.2±2.5 × 10^–6 cm s^–1 (SD, n=4). Offprint requests to: P. W Kuchel     

Microviscosity of human erythrocytes studied using hypophosphite two-spin order relaxation.

A new 31P NMR method is used to probe the cytoplasmic viscosity of human erythrocytes. The method is based on observing two-spin order relaxation of the 31P atom of the hypophosphite ion. This method is superior to our previous method, using the longitudinal relaxation time of the ion, because random field effects such as intermolecular dipole-dipole relaxation can be separated from intramolecular relaxation. This allows a more accurate determination of the effective reorientational correlation time from the measured intramolecular relaxation because it is now unaffected by random field effects. The new method also provides a means by which to estimate the random field effects. Both two-spin order and proton-decoupled T1 measurements were conducted on hypophosphite in water solutions at various temperatures, glycerol solutions of various viscosities, and in erythrocyte samples of various cell volumes. The results show that the effective reorientational correlation time of the hypophosphite ion varies from 7.2 to 15.2 ps in the cytoplasm of cells ranging in volume from 102 to 56 fl cells.     

Microviscosity of human erythrocytes studied with hypophosphite and 31P-NMR

A 31P-NMR method, which complements earlier 13C-NMR procedures for probing the intra-erythrocyte microenvironment, is described. Hypophosphite is an almost unique probe of the erythrocyte microenvironment, since it is rapidly transported into the cell via the band 3 protein, and intra- and extracellular populations give rise to distinct resonances in the 31P-NMR spectrum. Relaxation mechanisms of the 31P nucleus in the hypophosphite ion were shown to be spin-rotation and dipole-dipole. Analysis of longitudinal relaxation rates in human erythrocytes, haemolysates and concentrated glycerol solutions allowed the determination of microviscosity using the Debye equation. Bulk viscosities of lysates and glycerol solutions were measured using Ostwald capillary viscometry. Translational diffusion coefficients were then calculated from the viscosity estimates using the Stokes-Einstein equation. The results with a range of solvent systems showed that 'viscosity' is a relative phenomenon and that bulk (i.e., macro-) viscosity is therefore not necessarily related to the NMR-determined viscosity. The intracellular NMR-determined viscosities from red cells, ranging in volume from 65.5 to 100.1 fl, varied from 2.10 to 2.67 mPa s. This is consistent with the translational diffusion coefficients of the hypophosphite ion altering by only 20%, whereas the values determined from bulk viscosity measurements conducted on lysates of these cells are consistent with a 230% change.     

Characterization of transmembrane chemical shift differences in the 31P NMR spectra of various phosphoryl compounds added to erythrocyte suspensions

Trimethyl phosphate, dimethyl methylphosphonate, diethyl methylphosphonate, trimethylphosphine oxide, and the hypophosphite, phenylphosphinate, and diphenylphosphinate ions all contain the phosphoryl functional group. When added to an intact erythrocyte suspension at 20 degrees C, each of the compounds gave rise to separate intra- and extracellular 31P NMR resonances, and the separation between the two resonances of each compound varied with the mean cell volume. The differences between the intra- and extracellular chemical shifts were shown to be primarily attributable to the effects of hemoglobin. The presence of hemoglobin inside the cell gave rise to a significant difference in the magnetic susceptibilities of the two compartments. In addition, it exerted a large susceptibility-independent chemical shift effect, the magnitude of which was dependent upon the chemical structure of the phosphoryl compound involved. A number of other intra- and extracellular components were also shown to cause chemical shift variations, smaller than those arising from hemoglobin but nonetheless significant. The cell volume dependence of the transmembrane chemical shift differences therefore reflected not only the cell volume dependence of the intracellular hemoglobin concentration but also the changing concentration of the other solutes in the two compartments. In addition to their cell volume dependence, the transmembrane chemical shift differences varied with temperature. In the case of the nonelectrolytes this reflected not only the temperature dependence of the mechanism(s) responsible for the susceptibility-independent shift effects but also the temperature dependence of the rates at which the compounds traversed the cell membrane.     

Measurement of a wide range of intracellular sodium concentrations in erythrocytes by 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance.

The accuracy of the 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method for measuring the sodium concentration in erythrocytes was tested by comparing the NMR results to those obtained by emission-flame photometry. Comparisons were made on aqueous solutions, hemolysates, gels, ghosts, and intact erythrocytes. The intra- and extracellular 23Na NMR signals were distinguished by addition of the dysprosium tripolyphosphate [Dy(PPP)7-2] shift reagent to the extracellular fluid. The intra- and extracellular volumes of ghosts and cells were determined by the isotope dilution method. Our results indicate that greater than 20% of the intracellular signal remains undetected by NMR in ghosts and cells. When the cells are hemolyzed, the amount of NMR-detectable sodium varies depending on the importance of gel formation. In hemolysates prepared by water addition, the NMR and flame photometry results are identical. The loss of signal in ghosts, cells, and undiluted hemolysates is attributed to partial binding of the Na+ ion to intracellular components, this binding being operative only when these components exist in a gel state. In a second part, 31P NMR was used to monitor the penetration of the shift reagent into the cells during incubation. Our data demonstrate that free Dy3+ can slowly accumulate inside the red cell.     

铯进入红细胞的NMR研究

在生理及生化研究中铯离子的行为受到极大的关注,因为可由它来阐述碱金属离子输运及酶活性等一些基本功能。当所研究的体系中没有K~+时,Cs离子有类似K~+的功能,它能激活Na/K ATPase。Cs进入细胞的速率及激活Na/K ATPase所要求的浓度与被研究系统的条件密切有关。本文用核磁共振谱方法测定红细胞内外的Cs~+及Cs~+进入细胞的速率。结果表明Cs-133的核磁共振谱是研究生物体系离子的分布及输运的极好工具。     

31P and 35Cl nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of anion transport in human erythrocytes

The exchange of anions across the erythrocyte membrane has been studied using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to monitor inorganic phosphate influx and 35Cl NMR to monitor chloride ion efflux. The 31P NMR resonances for intracellular Pi and extracellular Pi could be observed separately by adjusting the initial extracellular pH to 6.4, while the intracellular pH was 7.3. The 35Cl NMR resonance for intracellular Cl- was so broad as to be virtually undetectable (line width greater than 200 Hz), while that of extracellular Cl-is relatively narrow (line width of about 30 Hz). The transports of Pi and Cl-were both totally inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate, a potent inhibitor of the band 3 protein. Since the 31P resonance of Pi varies with pH, intra- and extracellular pH changes could also be determined during anion transport. The extracellular pH rose and intracellular pH fell during anion transport, consistent with the protonated monoanionic H2PO4-form of Pi being transported into the erythrocyte rather than the deprotonated dianionic HPO24-form. The rates of Cl-efflux and Pi influx were determined quantitatively and were found to be in close agreement with values determined by isotope measurements. The Cl-efflux was found to coincide with the influx of the monoanionic H2PO4-form of Pi.     

23Na NMR study of intracellular sodium ions in Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba

The intracellular sodium concentration in the amoebae from the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum has been studied using 23Na NMR. The 23Na resonances from intracellular and extracellular compartments could be observed separately in the presence of the anionic shift reagent Dy(PPPi)7-2 which does not enter into the amoebae and thus selectively affects Na+ in the extracellular space. 31P NMR was used to control the absence of cellular toxicity of the shift reagent. The intracellular Na+ content was calculated by comparison of the intensities of the two distinct peaks arising from the intra- and extracellular spaces. It remained low (0.6 to 3 mM) in the presence of external Na+ (20 to 70 mM), and a large Na+ gradient (20- to 40-fold) was maintained. A rapid reloading of cells previously depleted of Na+ was readily measured by 23Na NMR. Nystatin, an antibiotic known to perturb the ion permeability of membranes, increased the intracellular Na+ concentration. The time dependence of the 23Na and 31P NMR spectra showed a rapid degradation of Dy(PPPi)7-2 which may be catalyzed by an acid phosphatase.     

A simple procedure for NMR measurements of intra- and extracellular sodium in intact tissues

The total Na+ and both the intra- and extracellular Na+ content of excised rat and frog tissues was quantitated by 23Na NMR at 95.51 MHz. An external capillary containing 33 mM Na7[Dy(P3O10)2], resonating about 30 ppm upfield relative to the 0.00 ppm of the intracellular Na+, was inserted into the tissues. The capillary was calibrated against a concentration range of pure NaCl solution, for measurement of intracellular Na+, and against the same concentrations of NaCl solutions containing 4-6 mM K7[Dy(P3O10)2] in 50 mM histidine. Cl and 100 mM choline. Cl, for measurement of extracellular Na+. Spectra were recorded on tissues first in the absence of the shift reagent for determination of the total Na+. After addition of a K7[Dy(P3O10)2] solution to the sample, the 23Na spectra were recorded immediately so that data accumulation was completed within 15 min. Under these conditions, the extracellular Na+ resonated from 10 to 20 ppm upfield relative to the intracellular Na+, and no loss in the intensity of the extracellular Na+ resonance occurred due to the lability of dysprosium(III)tripolyphosphate (cf. Matwiyoff et al., Magn. Reson. Med. 3: 164, 1986). The intra- and extracellular Na+ content of the tissue was calculated from the integrated areas of the respective Na+ resonances and that of the calibrated capillary, from the known weight of the tissue, and from the known volumes of the solutions added.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Physical basis of the effect of hemoglobin on the 31P NMR chemical shifts of various phosphoryl compounds

The marked difference between the intra- and extracellular 31P NMR chemical shifts of various phosphoryl compounds when added to a red cell suspension may be largely understood in terms of the effects of hemoglobin on the 31P NMR chemical shifts. The presence of [oxy- or (carbonmonoxy)-] hemoglobin inside the red cell causes the bulk magnetic susceptibility of the cell cytoplasm to be significantly less than that of the external solution. This difference is sufficient to account for the difference in the intra- and extracellular chemical shifts of the two phosphate esters trimethyl phosphate and triethyl phosphate. However, in the case of the compounds dimethyl methylphosphonate, diethyl methylphosphonate, and trimethyl-phosphine oxide as well as the hypophosphite, phenylphosphinate, and diphenylphosphinate ions, hemoglobin exerts an additional, much larger, effect, causing the 31P NMR resonances to shift to lower frequency in a manner that cannot be accounted for in terms of magnetic susceptibility. Lysozyme is a protein structurally unrelated to hemoglobin and was shown to cause similar shifts to lower frequency of the resonances of these six compounds; this suggests that the mechanism may involve a property of proteins in general and not a specific property of hemoglobin. The effect of different solvents on the chemical shifts of the eight phosphoryl compounds provided an insight into the possible physical basis of the effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Determination of membrane potential and cell volume by 19F NMR using trifluoroacetate and trifluoroacetamide probes

The distribution of ionic species between intra- and extracellular compartments forms one basis for the determination of cell membrane potential. It is shown that fluorine-19 NMR studies of erythrocytes in the presence of trifluoroacetate, a stable, relatively nontoxic anion with pK = -0.3, provide a sensitive probe of membrane potential. Since such measurements are based on ion concentrations, the parallel use of the neutral analogue trifluoroacetamide to provide information on intra/extracellular volume ratios was also explored. In both cases, separate 19F resonances corresponding to intra- and extracellular ions were observed, with the intracellular resonance shifted downfield by approximately 0.2 ppm and the intracellular peak typically somewhat broader than the extracellular resonance. Studies with the band 3 anion-exchange inhibitor 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) indicate that both transmembrane diffusion and flux involving the band 3 anion exchanger contribute to the observed transport of the trifluoroacetate anion. Intra/extracellular volume ratios determined on the basis of trifluoroacetamide intensity ratios were in good agreement with determinations based on measured hematocrits. On the basis of the high sensitivity of 19F NMR and the capability of monitoring volume changes simultaneously, the time resolution for these measurements can approach the lifetime of intracellular trifluoroacetate ions and hence be limited by the trifluoroacetate flux rate.     

Uptake of cesium ions by human erythrocytes and perfused rat heart: a cesium-133 NMR study

Cesium-133 NMR studies have been carried out on suspended human erythrocytes and on perfused rat hearts in media containing CsCl. The resulting spectra exhibit two sharp resonances, arising from intra- and extracellular Cs+, separated in chemical shift by 1.0-1.4 ppm. Thus, intra- and extracellular resonances are easily resolved without the addition of paramagnetic shift reagents required to resolve resonances of the other alkali metal ions. Spin-lattice relaxation times in all cases are monoexponential and significantly shorter (3-4 times) for the intracellular component. When corrections are made for the pulse repetition rate, the total intensity of the intracellular and extracellular Cs+ resonances in erythrocytes is conserved, implying total observability of the intracellular pool. The uptake of Cs+ by erythrocytes occurs at approximately one-third the reported rate for K+ and was reduced by a factor of 2 upon addition of ouabain to the sample. These results indicate that 133Cs NMR is a promising tool for studying the distribution and transport of cesium ions in biological systems and, in some cases such as uptake by cellular Na,K-ATPase, for analysis of K+ ion metabolism.     

Erythrocyte anion transport of phosphate analogs

The phosphate analogs are a series of chemically related small anions based upon tetrahedrally bonded phosphorus. Each compound is a mono- or disubstituted phosphorus oxyacid. These chemical substitutions lead to differences in the number and acidity of titratable protons, differences in molecular structures and charge distributions, and unique 31P, 19F, or 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra for each analog. These compounds include phosphate, phosphite, hypophosphite, fluorophosphate, thiophosphate, methylphosphonate, and dimethylphosphinate. NMR spectra were obtained from human erythrocytes suspended in buffers containing phosphate analogs. Intracellular and extracellular 31P and 19F chemical shifts of these anions were found to be nonequivalent, due to magnetic susceptibility differences between the two compartments, as well as to the transmembrane pH gradient. NMR spectroscopy was used to measure erythrocyte influx rates of the phosphate analogs, as well as the intracellular and extracellular pH changes that accompany influx, in red cell suspensions incubated for selected time intervals. Anion influx rates were found to vary over three orders of magnitude among the phosphate analogs. All analogs showed concentration-dependent influx rate saturation. The major determinant of influx rates was neither the molecular weight of the analog nor the net charge on the anion, but rather the structure of the anion. Phosphite (HPO2-3), the anion most closely resembling bicarbonate (a natural substrate for anion exchange) was found to have the highest influx rate.     

Environmental effects and desorption characteristics on heavy metal removal using carboxylated alginic acid

Effects of ionic strength and organic materials on copper ion uptake capacity using carboxylated alginic acid which showed very high metal ion uptake capacity were investigated. The ionic strength only had a slight effect on the decrease of copper ion uptake capacity regardless of NaCl concentration. And, the effect of organic materials such as NTA (nitrilotriaceticacid) and sodium hypophosphite on the copper ion uptake capacity was negligible. When the lead ion adsorbed on carboxylated alginic acid was desorbed by NTA, which showed high desorption efficiency, the best optimum concentration of NTA was about 0.01 M. Also desorption efficiency decreased, however, concentration factor increased as S/L ratio which is defined as the ratio of adding amount of adsorbed and volume of desorbing agent increased. In sequential adsorption and desorption cycles, the lead uptake capacity on carboxylated alginic acid was relatively maintained through cycles 1-5.     

Colligative and non-colligative freezing damage to thylakoid membranes

When spinach thylakoid membranes were frozen in vitro in solutions containing constant molar ratios of cryotoxic to cryoprotective solute, maintenance of functional integrity strongly depended on initial osmolarities. Optimum cryopreservation of cyclic photophosphorylation was observed when the membranes were suspended in solutions of intermediate osmolarities (approx. 50–100 mM NaCl, 75–150 mM sucrose). Both higher and lower initial osmolarities were found to result in decreased cryopreservation. In the absence of added salt, more than 100 mM sucrose were needed for full cryopreservation of the membranes. When thylakoids were frozen in solutions containing low concentrations of NaCl (2 mM), the ratio of sucrose to salt necessary to give full protection was high (up to 50). When the salt concentration was about 60 mM, ratios as low as 1.5 were sufficient for maintaining membrane integrity. This ratio increased again, as the initial NaCl concentration was increased beyond 60 mM. During freezing, proteins dissociated from the membranes, and the amount of the released proteins was correlated linearly with inactivation of photophosphorylation. The gel electrophoretic pattern of proteins released at low initial osmolarities differed from that of proteins released at high initial osmolarities. Cryopreservation was also found to depend on membrane concentration. Concentrated membrane suspensions suffered less inactivation than dilute suspensions. The protective effect of high membrane concentrations was particularly pronounced at high initial solute concentrations. It is proposed that damage at low initial osmolarities is caused predominantly by mechanical stress and by osmotic contraction/expansion. Damage at high initial osmolarities is thought to be caused mainly by solute effects. Under these conditions, both the final volume of the unfrozen solution in coexistence with ice and the membrane concentration affect membrane survival by influencing the extent of the loss of membrane components through dissociation reactions. Membrane protection by sugars is caused by colligative action under these circumstances.     

Contribution of extracellular ice formation and the solution effects to the freezing injury of PC-3 cells suspended in NaCl solutions

The mechanism of cell injury during slow freezing was examined using PC-3 human prostate adenocarcinoma cells suspended in NaCl solutions. The objective was to evaluate contribution of extracellular ice and the 'solution effects' to freezing injury separately. The solution effects that designate the influence of elevated concentration were evaluated from a pseudo-freezing experiment, where cells were subjected to the milieu that simulated a freeze-thaw process by changing the NaCl concentration and the temperature at the same time. The effect of extracellular ice formation on cell injury was then estimated from the difference in cell survival between the pseudo-freezing experiment and a corresponding freezing experiment. When cells were frozen to a relatively higher freezing temperature at -10 degrees C, about 30% of cells were damaged mostly due to extracellular ice formation, because the concentration increase without ice formation to 2.5-M NaCl, i.e., the equilibrium concentration at -10 degrees C, had no effect on cell survival. In contrast, in the case of the lower freezing temperature at -20 degrees C, about 90% of cells were injured by both effects, particularly 60-80% by the solution effects among them. The present results suggested that the solution effects become more crucial to cell damage during slow freezing at lower temperatures, while the effect of ice is limited to some extent.     

23Na and 31P NMR studies of the effects of salt stress on the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6311

We have used 23Na and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to elucidate some of the bioenergetic changes that occur in the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6311 after a transition from growth medium (Na concentration 0.01 M) to medium containing 0.5 M NaCl. 23Na NMR analysis showed Na rapidly penetrates the cells under dark aerobic conditions; cells grown for several days in high salt medium, however, reestablish a low internal sodium content, comparable to control cells. For 31P NMR analysis, a system was devised to aerate and illuminate cell suspensions during spectral acquisition. The NMR spectra showed that when cells are presented with 0.5 M NaCl (final concentration), nucleotide triphosphate peaks decrease, the inorganic phosphate peak increases, and the cytoplasmic pH transiently increases from 7.4 to 7.9. Pyrophosphate added to cell suspensions is hydrolyzed to inorganic phosphate apparently by an extracellular phosphatase, allowing external and internal pools of inorganic phosphate to be distinguished. Nucleotide triphosphate levels fall almost as much when cells are incubated in darkness as under anoxia, indicating that both respiration and photosynthesis contribute to the maintenance of intracellular ATP levels. Cells grown in high salt medium for several generations exhibited a pattern of 31P metabolites similar to control cells, except that they produced more (and more intense) peaks in the monoester phosphate region, presumably signals from sugar phosphates.     

Activation of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by addition of hydrogen peroxide.

Addition of hydrogen peroxide (greater than 10 mM) to aerated derepressed cells of S. cerevisiae in the absence of substrate caused a boost of endogenous respiration and both intra- and extracellular acidification, without any significant change in cellular ATP level. Furthermore, a hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane was indicated by an enhanced accumulation of tetraphenylphosphonium in the cells. The extracellular pH attained was as low as 3.5. The acidification could be suspended by the H(+)-ATPase inhibitors diethylstilbestrol and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and was, in general, associated with an opposite flux of K+. K+ also stimulated the H(+)-ATPase activity in the purified plasma membrane fraction. These results are consistent with the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase being involved in the H+ extrusion induced by H2O2 in the absence of substrate. Extended exposure of cells to H2O2 led eventually to an arrest of both respiration and ion fluxes that could be again lifted by depolarizing the plasma membrane. Along with differences in the cellular NADH/NAD+ ratio and in the participation of organic acids, this makes the H2O2-induced acidification distinct from that induced by glucose.     

Synthesis and 31P NMR characterization of new low toxic highly sensitive pH probes designed for in vivo acidic pH studies

With the aim to provide sensitive 31P NMR probes of intra- and extracellular pH gradients that may reach cellular acidic compartments in biological systems, new alpha-aminophosphonates were designed to meet basic requirements such as a low pK(a)s and a great chemical difference (Deltadelta(ab)) between the limiting 31P NMR chemical shifts in acidic (delta(a)) and basic (delta(b)) media. A series of six phosphorylated pyrrolidines and linear aminophosphonates were synthesized using aminophosphorylation reactions and were screened for cytotoxicity on cultured Müller cells. Among the compounds not being toxic under these conditions, three molecules were selected since they displayed the best in vitro (in several phosphate buffers and in a cytosol-like solution) properties as 31P NMR acidic pH markers, that is 3, 5 and 9, having the pK(a) values of 3.63, 5.89 and 5.66, respectively. The Deltadelta(ab) values of these pH markers were at least 3 times larger than that of standard 31P NMR probes, with a low sensitivity to ionic strength changes. From these data, it was proposed that 3, 5 and 9 could be used as reporting probes of subtle proton movements in acidic compartments, an area that still remains poorly investigated using non invasive 31P NMR methods.