The interaction of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate with the membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and various lipid compounds.

(1) The enzymatic removal of lipids from the vesicular membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum does not interfere with the fluorescence of the 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) vesicular complex. (2) The fluorescence intensity of the ANS vesicular complex is considerably (50%) reduced by oleic acid (0.5MM) because it displaces ANS from its binding sites. (3) Stearic acid, which also combines with the membranes, interferes neither with ANS binding nor with ANS fluorescence. (4) Of all lipid compounds tested, oleylamine produces the most pronounced fluorescence enhancement of ANS. (5) The complexes formed between oleic acid and cetyltrimethyl ammonium salts or between oleic acid and polylysine produce a much higher fluorescence enhancement than the isolated components. (6) Low concentrations of ether added to ANS-containing vesicular suspensions reduce their fluorescence intensity. It returns to the initial intensity when the ether is removed. (7) A small cyclic change of the fluorescence of the vesicular ANS complex takes place during active calcium uptake.