The effect of AC voltage on the ionophore-induced steady-state flux across the bilayer lipid membrane.

Application of an AC voltage to a model bilayer lipid membrane in the presence of electrogenic ionophores (valinomycin, protonophores CCCP and TTFB) was shown to change the steady-state current across the membrane induced by a DC voltage. The change in the DC current was proportional to the magnitude of the DC voltage and to the amplitude of the AC voltage and depended on both the AC frequency and the ionophore used. Application of this new experimental approach to the estimation of kinetic constants at individual stages of ionophore functioning is discussed.