Fatty Acid Fueled Transmembrane Chloride Transport

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Jul 10;141(27):10654-10660. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b02116. Epub 2019 Jun 21.

Abstract

Generation of chemical gradients across biological membranes of cellular compartments is a hallmark of all living systems. Here we report a proof-of-concept prototype transmembrane pumping system in liposomes. The pump uses fatty acid to fuel chloride transport, thus generating a transmembrane chloride gradient. Addition of fatty acid to phospholipid vesicles generates a transmembrane pH gradient (pHin < pHout), and this electrochemical H+ potential is harnessed by an anionophore to drive chloride efflux via H+/Cl- cotransport. Further addition of fatty acid efficiently fuels the system to continuously drive chloride transport against the concentration gradient, up to [Cl-]in 65 mM | [Cl-]out 100 mM, and is 1400 times more efficient than using an external fuel. Based on our findings from dissecting the H+/Cl- flux process with the use of different liposomal fluorescence assays, and supported by additional liposome-based 13C NMR and DLS studies; we proposed that the presence of an anionophore can induce asymmetric distribution of fatty acid, and contribute to another Cl- flux mechanism in this system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Chlorides / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Ion Transport
  • Liposomes / metabolism
  • Phospholipids / metabolism
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Chlorides
  • Fatty Acids
  • Liposomes
  • Phospholipids