Efficiency, Na+/K+ selectivity and temperature dependence of ion transport through lipid membranes by (221)C10-cryptand, an ionizable mobile carrier.

The kinetics of Na+ and K+ transport across the membrane of large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) were determined at two pH's when transport was induced by (221)C10-cryptand (diaza-1,10-decyl-5-pentaoxa-4,7,13,16,21-bicyclo [8.8.5.] tricosane) at various temperatures, and by nonactin at 25 degrees C and (222)C10-cryptand at 20 and 25 degrees C. The rate of Na+ and K+ transport by (221)C10 saturated with the cation and carrier concentrations. Transport was noncooperative and exhibited selectivity for Na+ with respect to K+. The apparent affinity of (221)C10 for Na+ was higher and less pH-dependent than that for K+, and seven times higher than the affinity for Na+ of nonactin. Its enthalpy was higher than that of (222)C10 for K+ ions (20.5 vs. 1.7 kcal . mole-1). The efficiency of (221)C10 transport of Na+ was pH- and carrier concentration-dependent, and was similar to that of nonactin; its activation energy was similar to that for (222)C10 transport of K+ (35.5 and 29.7 kcal . mole-1, respectively). The reaction orders in cation n(S) and in carrier m(M), respectively, increased and decreased as the temperature rose, and were both independent of carrier or cation concentrations; in most cases, they varied slightly with the pH. n(S) varied with the cation at pH 8.7 and with the carrier for Na+ transport only, while m(M) always depended on the type of cation and carrier. Results are discussed in terms of the structural, physico-chemical and electrical characteristics of carriers and complexes.