Natural electrophoresis of norepinephrine and ascorbic acid

The electric field produced by cell membranes, extending only a few nanomet ers, is 1000 times stronger than the electric fields required to produce di ssociation of molecular complexes. Using the complex formed by norepinephri ne (NE) and ascorbic acid (AA), we have demonstrated the quantitative bindi ng of AA to NE, the use of capillary electrophoresis to measure quantitativ e binding of nonelectrolyte complexes, the determination of a dissociation constant (Kd) from electric field-dissociation constants (Ke), and a model for natural dissociation of the NE-AA complex due to the electric field gen erated by a cell membrane. NE-AA dissociation constants show little effect of NE concentration or pH changes. NE-related compounds also bind AA: epine phrine > norepinephrine > tyrosine > histamine > phenylalanine. Serotonin d oes not bind AA. Phosphorylated AA and glucose also bind NE at 0.05 and 0.0 8 of the AA binding, respectively. Natural electrophoresis of molecular com plexes allows compounds to travel through the body in a protected state and still be available for physiological activity upon reaching a membrane.