Dielectric relaxation studies of ionic processes in lysolecithin-packaged gramicidin channels

Summary Dielectric permittivities have been determined for suspensions of lysolecithin packaged malonyl gramicidin channels over the frequency range of 5kHz to 900 MHz and under conditions of approximately equimolar concentrations (10mM) of channels and salts. The salts were lithium chloride, sodium chloride and thallium acetate. A relaxation process unique to the thallium acetate-channel system was observed which on analysis gave rise to a relaxation time at 25⁰ of 120 nsec. The permittivity data, as well as a comparison of binding constants, indicate that the relaxation process results from Tl⁺ being bound within the channel and more specifically from an intrachannel ion translocation with a rate constant of approximately 4×10⁶ sec^–1 and with an energy of activation of less than 6.7 kcal/mole. These data compare favorably with data from conductance studies on planar bilayers and with ion and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic studies on the lysolecithin packaged malonyl gramicidin channels which combine to indicate that the relaxation process is due to the jump of the thallium ion across a central barrier.