PROTON LATERAL CONDUCTION ALONG A LIPID MONOLAYER SPREAD ON A PHYSIOLOGICAL SUBPHASE

A localized lateral proton pathway is present along the phospholipid p olar heads and bound water molecules when the lipids are spread in mon olayers at the air/water interface. Conduction can be detected on conc entrated buffers as found under physiological conditions if the latera l proton gradient is large enough. The localized movement supports the occurrence of microlocalized proton circuits along a membrane and of lateral proton gradients.