Blocking of valinomycin-mediated bilayer membrane conductance by substituted benzimidazoles.

Valinomycin selectively transports alkali cations, e.g. potassium ions, across lipid bilayer membranes. The blocking of this carrier-mediated transport by four substituted benzimidazoles has been investigated. The compounds are 4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, (TTFB); 4,5,6,7,-tetrachloro-2-methylbenzimidazole, (TMB); 2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole, (TFB); and 2-methylbenzimidazole, (MBM). Because of its low acidic dissociation constant (pKa = 5.04), the blocking efficiency of TTFB in both neutral and anionic forms in the aqueous phase could be studied. The compounds exhibit the blocking efficiency sequence, TTFB- greater than TTFB0 greater than TMB0 greater than TFB0 greater than MBM0. The corresponding scale of decreasing lipophilicity, as determined by octanol/water partitioning, is TTFB0 greater than TMB0 greater than TTFB- greater than TFB0 greater than MBM0. Comparison of neutral species establishes a positive correlation of blocking efficiency with lipophilicity, with the latter being conferred primarily by chlorination of the benzenoid nucleus. Anionic TTFB, on the other hand, is the most effective blocking agent studied in spite of the fact that its dissociation in the aqueous phase markedly impedes its entry (presumably as a neutral species) into a bulk hydrocarbon phase. This observation suggests that the blocking of valinomycin-mediated bilayer membrane conductance takes place at the membrane/solution interface.