Physical characterization of and ionophore-mediated europium(III) transport through unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles. A laser-induced europium(III) luminescence spectroscopy study.

A continuation of the study of phospholipid bilayer vesicles as model membrane systems by laser-induced europium(III) luminescence spectroscopy is presented here (B.M. Cader and W. DeW. Horrocks, Jr, Biophys. Chem. 32 (1988) 97). This spectroscopic technique was used to characterize further the physical properties of small and large vesicles composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and egg phosphatidylcholine, respectively. Unilamellar preparations were confirmed and internal aqueous volumes were calculated. The calcium-binding carboxylic ionophores, lasalocid A and A23187, were incorporated into the lipid bilayers of these vesicles for the purpose of modeling the mobile carrier mechanism of ion transport across cell membranes. Spectroscopic data implicate the presence of 1:1 and 1:2 europium(III)/lasalocid A complexes within the hydrophobic region, both capable of efficient transport and containing no water molecules in the inner sphere of europium(III). First-order rate constants for lasalocid A-mediated europium(III) transport were determined at 37 and 62 degrees C (0.018 and 0.11 min-1, respectively) using EGTA as a 'flag' to bind and detect the post-transported metal ion.