Summary
We studied the coupling of a membrane function (the transport of Cs+-ions by the pore-forming polypeptide gramicidin) to chemically driven phase changes in black membranes of binary lipid mixtures.
First we established a miscibility gap in the Ca++-concentration-composition phase diagram of mixed lecithin/phosphatidylglycerol membranes: at very low Ca++-concentrations (c< 10-6 M) a conductance histogram with a single population is found which indicates a homogeneously mixed membrane. At higher Ca++-concentrations the histograms show a bimodal distribution of pores with different mean conductivities, Ai, showing the demixed state of the membrane with two coexisting phases.
Next, we demonstrate that, under certain conditions, one can switch between a homogeneously mixed membrane and a phase separated state also by changing the pH. We interpret this as being caused by the change in the degree of dissociation of the phosphatidylglycerol headgroup.
Finally, two examples for polyelectrolyte (polylysine and polyvinylmethylpyridinium) are given.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bamberg, E., and Läuger, P. (1973) J.Membrane Biol. 11, 177–185.
Bamberg, E., and Läuger, P. (1977) J.Membrane Biol. 35, 351–375.
Carrier, D., and Pezolet, M. (1984) Biochem. 25, 4167–4174.
Galla, H.-J., and Sackmann, E. (1975) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 97, 4114–4120.
Henkel, T., Mittler, S., Pfeifer, W., Rötzer, H., Apell, H.-J., and Knoll, W. (1989) Biochimie 71 89–98.
Hladky, S.B., and Haydon, D.A. (1970) Nature 225, 451–453.
Knoll, W., Apell, H.-J., Eibl, H., and Miller, A. (1986) Eur. Biophys.J. 13. 187–193.
Mittler-Neher, S. (1989) PhD Thesis, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
Mittler-Neher, S., and Knoll, W. (1989a) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun, 162, 124–129.
Mittler-Neher, S., and Knoll, W. (1989b) submitted.
Montal, M., and Mueller, P. (1972) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69, 3561–3566.
Mueller, P., Rudin, D.O., Tien, H.T., and Wescott, W.C.. (1962) Nature 196, 979–980.
Sackmann, E. (1984a) In: Biological Membranes Vol. 5 (D. Chapman, Ed.), Academic Press, London, pp. 105–143.
Sackmann, E. (1984b) In: Synergetics — From Microscopic to Macroscopic Order (E. Frehland, Ed.), Springer Series in Synergetics, Vol. 24, Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp. 68–79.
Schmidt, G., Eibl, H., and Knoll, W. (1982) J. Membrane Biol. 70, 147–155.
Van Dijck, P.W.M., De Kruijff, B., Verkleij, A.J., Van Deenen, L.L.M., and De Gier, J. (1978) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 512, 84–96.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mittler-Neher, S., Spinke, J., Knoll, W. (1990). Chemically Driven Phase Separation in Black Lipid Membranes. In: Vasilescu, D., Jaz, J., Packer, L., Pullman, B. (eds) Water and Ions in Biomolecular Systems. Advances in Life Sciences. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7253-9_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7253-9_24
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel
Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-7255-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-7253-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive