The action of astasilid on bilayer lipid membranes
Sukharev, S.I.; Sukhareva Nemakova, N.N.
Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR Seriya Biologicheskaya 2: 301-304
1987
Accession: 006595575
The action of astasilid (mixture of surcrose ethers and fatty acids separated from Astasia longa) on bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) has been studied. Dipole component of the boundary potential jump (.DELTA.rho.s) was found to change significantly upon adsorption of astasilid on the membrane. Symmetrical introduction of astasilid into the test cell in physiologically active concentration (1-50 .mu.g/ml) lead to increase in BLM conductance by two orders of magnitude, and twofold decrease in tension. Electromechanical stability of BLM is significantly decreased in the presence of astasilid. Calculations made on the basis of dependences of BLM average life time on tension, demonstrated that upon introduction of astasilid, linear tension of the membrane pore edge decreased, thus enabling the processes of formation and growth of hydrophilic pores in the bilayer. These data suggest that physiological effects of astasilid are based on its membrane-active properties.