Facilitated transport of di- and trinitrophenolate ions across lipid membranes by valinomycin and nonactin.

The conductance of black lipid membranes in the presence of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (or 2,4-dinitrophenol) is considerably enhanced, if the cation carriers valinomycin, enniatin B or nonactin are added. The effect is, however, largely independent of the cation concentration and is identical for the cations Li+, Na+ and Ba2+. This finding, as well as the sign and magnitude of the diffusion potential in the presence of a gradient of picrate are consistent with the assumption that the transport of picrate anions is facilitated by the above-mentioned macrocyclic compounds, but that cations are not directly involved. A model is suggested which, based on the generation of mobile defect structures by the incorporation of large molecules, allows one to explain facilitated transport without the assumption of stable chemical bonds between a carrier and its transported substrate. If K+ is present in the aqueous phase, the conductance is largely determined by the permeation of the cation complexes of valinomycin and nonactin. The conductance is, however, increases by adsorption of picrate anions to the membrane surface. The negative surface potential generated by the adsorption layer seems to be responsible for the saturation of the conductance at high picrate concentrations in the absence of valinomycin and nonactin.