THE EFFECT OF AC VOLTAGE ON THE IONOPHORE -INDUCED STEADY-STATE FLUX ACROSS THE BILAYER-LIPID MEMBRANE

In was shown that the application of AC voltage to the artificial bila yer lipid membrane in the presence of electrogenic ionophores (valinom ycin, protonophores ClCCP and TTFB) changes the steady-state current a cross the membrane induced by DC voltage. The change in the DC current is proportional to the DC voltage value and to the AC voltage amplitu de and depends on both the AC frequency and the ionophore used. Applic ation of this new experimental approach to the estimation of kinetic c onstants of induvidual stages of ionophore functioning is discussed.