Internal membrane potentials

Interaction of the analyte with the membrane results in a membrane potential if there is a difference in the analyte s concentration on opposite sides of the membrane. One side of the membrane is in contact with an internal solution containing a fixed concentration of analyte, while the other side of the membrane is in contact with the sample. Current is carried through the membrane by the movement of either the analyte or an ion already present in the membrane s matrix. The membrane potential is given by a Nernst-like equation... 

Figure 8. Schematic potential distribution across a bipolar membrane under increased anodic polarization. 15 At the neutral layer, dehydration proceeds in accordance with anodic polarization. and A are the inner potential and membrane potential, respectively. (Reproduced from N. Sato, Corrosion 45,354,1989, Fig. 27 with permission from NACE International.)...

Figure 4. Effects of dihydro-brevetoxin B (H2BVTX-B) on Na currents in crayfish axon under voltage-clamp. (A) A family of Na currents in control solution each trace shows the current kinetics responding to a step depolarization (ranging from -90 to -I-100 mV in 10 mV increments). Incomplete inactivation at large depolarizations is normal in this preparation. (B) Na currents after internal perfusion with H2BVTX-B (1.2 a M). inactivation is slower and less complete than in the control, and the current amplitudes are reduced. (C) A plot of current amplitudes at their peak value (Ip o, o) and at steady-state (I A, A for long depolarizations) shows that toxin-mOdified channels (filled symbols) activate at more negative membrane potentials and correspond to a reduced peak Na conductance of the axon (Reproduced with permission from Ref. 31. Copyright 1984 American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics).

Another situation is found for the Na+ ions. When the membrane is permeable to these ions, even if only to a minor extent, they will be driven from the external to the internal solution, not only by diffusion but when the membrane potential is negative, also under the effect of the potential gradient. In the end, the unidirectional flux of these ions should lead to a concentration inside that is substantially higher than that outside. The theoretical value calculated from Eq. (5.15) for the membrane potential of the Na ions is -1-66 mV. Therefore, permeabihty for Na ions should lead to a less negative value of the membrane potential, and this in turn should lead to a larger flux of potassium ions out of the cytoplasm and to a lower concentration difference of these ions. All these conclusions are at variance with experience. 

The individual steps of the multistep chemical reduction of COj with the aid of NADPHj require an energy supply. This supply is secured by participation of ATP molecules in these steps. The chloroplasts of plants contain few mitochondria. Hence, the ATP molecules are formed in plants not by oxidative phosphorylation of ADP but by a phosphorylation reaction coupled with the individual steps of the photosynthesis reaction, particularly with the steps in the transition from PSII to PSI. The mechanism of ATP synthesis evidently is similar to the electrochemical mechanism involved in their formation by oxidative phosphorylation owing to concentration gradients of the hydrogen ions between the two sides of internal chloroplast membranes, a certain membrane potential develops on account of which the ATP can be synthesized from ADP. Three molecules of ATP are involved in the reaction per molecule of COj. 

A representative ISE is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The electrode consists of a membrane, an internal reference electrolyte of fixed activity, (ai)i , ai and an internal reference electrode. The ISE is immersed in sample solution that contains analyte of some activity, (ajXampie and into which an external reference electrode is also immersed. The potential measured by the pH/mV meter (Eoe,) is equal to the difference in potential between the internal (Eraf.int) and external (Eref.ext) reference electrodes, plus the membrane potential (E emb), plus the liquid junction potential... 

The membrane of the glass electrode is blown on the end of a glass tube. This tube is filled with a solution with a constant pH (acetate buffer, hydrochloric acid) and a reference electrode is placed in this solution (silver chloride or calomel electrodes). During the measurement, this whole system is immersed with another reference electrode into the test solution. The membrane potential of the glass electrode, when the internal and analysed... 

Consider a concentration gradient for NaCl with an internal protocell concentration of 150 mM and an external concentration of order 1 mM, as might be found in a freshwater environment. There is a membrane potential of —200 mV. 

Electrodes responding to other halides, sulphide, cyanide, silver, lead, copper and cadmium are made using membranes fabricated from pure or doped silver sulphide (Ag2S). The membrane potential is affected by the movement of Ag+ ions between cationic lattice sites which in turn is determined by the activities of the Ag+ ion in the internal and sample solutions. As the activity of the former is fixed, that of the latter alone influences the membrane potential. The electrode will also respond to the presence of S2- ions because of their effect on the Ag+ ion activity via the solubility product expression ... 

Electrodes with liquid ion-exchange membranes are typified by a calcium-sensitive electrode (Figure 6.4). The membrane-liquid consists of the calcium form of a di-alkyl phosphoric acid, [(RO)2POO ] 2Ca2+, which is prepared by repeated treatment of the acid with a calcium salt. The internal solution is calcium chloride and the membrane potential, which is determined by the extent of ion-exchange reactions at the interfaces between the membrane and the internal and sample solutions, is given by... 

The formation of antibodies is only one mechanism by which an animal may protect itself from substances or microorganisms that are potentially harmful. A mechanical protection against infection is provided by the presence of an intact skin surface and membranes together with the secretion of mucus from many internal membrane surfaces. The acids secreted by the stomach and skin have a bactericidal effect as does the presence in many body fluids of certain enzymes, particularly lysozyme. 

If the ISE membrane is in contact on both sides with solutions of the same ion whose activity is to be determined in the analyte (determinand J), and neither the analysed nor the internal ISE solution contains another ion that would affect the membrane potential (interferent K), then the membrane potential is... 

Solid membranes without an internal diffusion potential [3,8, 9, 54,56,62, 63] contain a nonporous layer of a poorly soluble salt in contact with a solution that contains either a cation or anion that is also a membrane component. 

They are classified by membrane material into glass membrane electrodes, crystalline (or solid-state) membrane electrodes, and liquid membrane electrodes. Liquid membrane electrodes are further classified into liquid ion-exchange membrane electrodes and neutral carrier-based liquid membrane electrodes. Some examples are shown in Fig. 5.36 and Table 5.3. If the membrane is sensitive to ion i of charge Z and the activities of i in the sample and internal solutions are equal to (i) and a2(i), respectively, the membrane potential, m, which is developed across the membrane, is... 

The internal [Na+] and [Ca2+] are both low, while the internal [K+] is high. These differences are also linked to the membrane potential (Eq. 8-2), which is ordinarily expressed as a negative voltage of the interior of a cell, mitochondrion, plastid, etc. with respect to a reference electrode in the external medium. 

In addition to the Na+,K+- ATPases there is a very active Ca2+-ATPase which transports two Ca2+ from the inside of cells to the outside while returning two H+ from outside per ATP.510 543a This is the primary transporter by which cells maintain a low internal [Ca2+]. During its action it becomes phosphorylated on Asp 351. However, in neurons, in which the membrane potential is maintained at a high negative value by the sodium pump, an Na+/ Ca2+ ion exchange plays an even more important role.540... 

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