Skip to main content

Influence of Membrane Physical State on the Lysosomal Proton Permeability

Abstract.

Influence of membrane physical state on the proton permeability of isolated lysosomes was assessed by measuring the membrane potential with 3,3′-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide and monitoring their proton leakage with p-nitrophenol. Changes in the membrane order were examined by the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Both the membrane potential and proton leakage increased with fluidizing the lysosomal membranes by benzyl alcohol and decreased with rigidifying the membranes by cholesteryl hemisuccinate. The proton permeability increased to the maximum of 42% by the benzyl alcohol treatment and decreased to the minimum of 38.1% by the cholesteryl hemisuccinate treatment. Treating the lysosomes with protonophore CCCP increased the proton permeability by 58%. The effects of the membrane fluidization and rigidification can be reversed by rigidifying the fluidized membranes and fluidizing the rigidified membranes, respectively. The results indicate that the proton permeability of lysosomes increased and decreased with increasing and decreasing their membrane fluidity, respectively. Moreover, the lysosomal proton permeability did not alter further if the changes, either an increase or a decrease, in the fluidity exceeded some amount. The results suggest that the proton permeability of lysosomes can be modulated finitely by the alterations in their membrane physical state.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Author information

Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 27 September 1999 / Revised: 27 December 1999

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, GJ., Liu, HW., Yang, L. et al. Influence of Membrane Physical State on the Lysosomal Proton Permeability. J. Membrane Biol. 175, 53–62 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002320001054

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002320001054

  • Key words: Lysosomes — Membrane fluidity — Proton permeability — Membrane potential — Proton leakage