Skip to main content
Log in

The mechanism of action of DNP on phospholipid bilayer membranes

  • Published:
The Journal of Membrane Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The weak acid 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) acts as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in biological systems and, in consonance with the Mitchell hypothesis, also enhances the conductance of phospholipid bilayer membranes. Several models have been proposed in the literature to explain the molecular mechanism by which DNP exerts its electrical effects on the model membranes, none of which accounts for all of the data, and all of which ignore the possibility that the anion of DNP is also binding to the surface of the bilayer and modifying the charge density. Experimental evidence is presented in this report which suggests that when a bilayer membrane is formed from a neutral lipid, DNP does in fact adsorb to its surface and produce a substantial negative surface potential. When this phenomenon is taken into account, the model proposed by Lea and Croghan and by Finkelstein is capable of describing all of the effects of DNP on bilayer membranes. In this model, the permeant species is a negatively charged complex formed from the undissociated acid and its anion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barker, J. L., Levitan, H. 1971. Salicylate: effect on membrane permeability of molluscan neurons.Science 172:1245.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bielawski, J., Thompson, T. E., Lehninger, A. L. 1966. The effect of 2,4, dinitrophenol on the electrical resistance of phospholipid bilayer membranes.Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 24:948.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner, L. J. 1970. Blocking phenomena and charge transport through membranes.Biophysik 6:241.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fettiplace, R., Andrews, D. M., Haydon, D. A. 1971. The thickness, composition and structure of some lipid bilayers and natural membranes.J. Membrane Biol. 5:277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelstein, A. 1970. Weak-acid uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. Mechanism of action on thin lipid membranes.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 205:1.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, J. E., Mead, C. A. 1972. The experimental energy profile of a carrier-ion complex in a black lipid film.Biophys. Soc. Abs. 44 a.

  • Hopfer, U., Lehninger, A. L., Lennarz, W. J. 1970. The effect of the polar moiety of lipids on bilayer conductance induced by uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation.J. Membrane Biol. 3:142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopfer, U., Lehninger, A. L., Thompson, T. E. 1968. Protonic conductance across phospholipid bilayer membranes induced by uncoupling agents for oxidative phosphorylation.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 59:484.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Läuger, P. 1970. Ion transport across lipid bilayer membranes.In: Physical Principles of Biological Membranes. F. Snell, J. Wolken, G. Iverson, and J. Lam, editors. p. 227. Gordon and Breach, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lea, E. J. A., Croghan, P. C. 1969. The effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol on the properties of thin phospholipid films.J. Membrane Biol. 1:225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Blanc, O. H. 1971. The effect of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation on lipid bilayer membranes: Carbonylcyanidem-chlorophenylhydrazone.J. Membrane Biol. 4:227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesslauer, W., Cain, J., Blasie, J. W. 1971. The location of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene-sulfonate in lipid model systems.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 241:547.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liberman, E. A., Babakov, A. V. 1968. Diminishing characteristics and impedance of phospholipid membranes in presence of tetrachlorotrifluorobenzimidazole.Biofizika 13:362.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liberman, E. A., Mochova, E. N., Skulachev, V. P., Topaly, V. P. 1968. Effect of uncoupling agents of oxidative phosphorylation on bimolecular phospholipid membranes.Biofizika 13:188.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liberman, E. A., Topaly, V. P. 1968a. Selective transport of ions through bimolecular phospholipid membranes.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 163:125.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liberman, E. A., Topaly, V. P. 1968b. Transfer of ions across bimolecular membranes and classification of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation.Biofizika 13:1025.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mac Donald, R. C., Bangham, A. D. 1972. Comparison of double layer potentials in lipid monolayers and lipid bilayer membranes.J. Membrane Biol. 7:29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mc Laughlin, S. 1972. Local anaesthetics, salicylate and the surface potential of bilayer membranes.Biophys. Soc. Abs. 181 a.

  • Mc Laughlin, S. G. A., Szabo, G., Eisenman, G. 1971. Divalent ions and the surface potential of charged phospholipid membranes.J. Gen. Physiol. 58:667.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mc Laughlin, S. A. G., Szabo, G., Eisenman, G., Ciani, S. M. 1970. Surface charge and the conductance of phospholipid membranes.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 67:1268.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, P. 1966. Chemi-osmotic coupling in oxidative and photosynthetic phosphorylation.Biol. Rev. 41:445.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neumcke, B. 1971. Diffusion polarization at lipid bilayer membranes in the presence of a homogeneous chemical reaction in the solutions.T.I.T. Life Sci. 1:85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumcke, B., Läuger, P. 1970. Space charge-limited conductance in lipid bilayer membranes.J. Membrane Biol. 3:54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skulachev, V. P., Sharaf, A. A., Liberman, E. A. 1967. Proton conductors in the respiratory chain and artificial membranes.Nature 216:718.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stark, G., Benz, R. 1971. The transport of potassium through lipid bilayer membranes by the neutral carriers valinomycin and monactin.J. Membrane Biol. 5:133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szabo, G., Eisenman, G., Ciani, S. 1969. The effects of the macrotetralide actin antibiotics on the electrical properties of phospholipid bilayer membranes.J. Membrane Biol. 1:346.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McLaughlin, S. The mechanism of action of DNP on phospholipid bilayer membranes. J. Membrain Biol. 9, 361–372 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01868062

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01868062

Keywords

Navigation