A laser-temperature-jump method for the study of the rate of transfer of hydrophobic ions and carriers across the interface of thin lipid membranes.

The first application of a laser-temperature-jump apparatus for the study of ion transport through planar (artificial) lipid membranes is described. The relaxation of the electric current is detected, either continuously at a constant applied voltage or discontinuously by a series of short voltage pulses. The second technique, a combined voltage- and temperature-jump method, is especially appropriate to investigate the kinetics of the adsorption/desorption process of hydrophobic ions and neutral carriers of cations at the membrane interface and to separate this phenomenon from the diffusion process through the unstirred aqueous layers adjacent to the membrane. The aim is to determine the rate-limiting step of transport. The permeation rate of the hydrophobic anion 2,4,6-trinitrophenolate is limited by the inner membrane barrier. For tetraphenylberate the rate constant of translocation across the inner barrier and that of desorption from the membrane into water are found to be of comparable magnitude. The membrane permeability of the neutral macrocyclic ion carrier enniatin B is strongly interface limited by its comparatively small rate of desorption into water. These results show that the frequently used a priori assumption of partition equilibrium at the membrane interfaces during transport is not justified.