Transport of Na+ by monensin across bimolecular lipid membranes.

Transmembrane 22Na fluxes across bimolecular lipid membranes are measured under two different experimental conditions: (a) the pH is the same in the two bulk aqueous solutions on either side of the membrane while the concentrations of Na+ are different; (b) the concentration of Na+ are identical but pH of the two solutions are different. In this latter case, the transport of Na+ occurs in the opposite direction to the difference of the proton concentration. In both cases, the electrical charge flux in negligible. A transport model is proposed to account for the experimental data.