gramicidin-a and acetamidine

Studies were conducted using a novel in vitro approach to investigate the efficacy of acetamidine hydrochloride (ACE) and guanidine hydrochloride (GUAN), previously shown to block gramicidin D (GRAM) channels in artificial membranes, in preventing the toxic effects of GRAM in NG108-15 (neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid) cells. Specifically, intracellular microelectrode techniques were employed to examine changes in membrane resting potential (Vm) and input resistance (Rin). At 1 micromol/L, ACE significantly reduced loss of Vm induced by 1 or 10 microg/ml GRAM, although higher concentrations of ACE did not afford enhanced antagonism. GUAN, in contrast, produced a concentration-dependent antagonism of GRAM-induced Vm and Rin loss, with high concentrations (10 or 100 micromol/L) completely preventing diminutions in both Vm and Rin. In control cells superfused without GRAM, ACE produced a direct, concentration-dependent reduction in Vm and Rin, whereas GUAN hyperpolarized NG108-15 cells but did not alter Rin. These data represent the initial demonstration of the reversal of GRAM toxicity in an intact cell system.

Topics: Amidines; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Interactions; Electric Impedance; Electrophysiology; Glioma; Gramicidin; Guanidine; Hybrid Cells; Membrane Potentials; Neuroblastoma; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Parasympathomimetics; Rats; Trypsin Inhibitors

Empirical energy function calculations were used to evaluate the effects of minimization on the structure of a gramicidin A channel and to analyze the energies of interaction between three cations (guanidinium, acetamidinium, formamidinium) and the channel as a function of position along the channel axis. The energy minimized model of the gramicidin channel, which was based on the results of Venkatachalam and Urry (1983), has a constriction at the channel entrance. If the channel is not allowed to relax in the presence of the ions (rigid model), there is a large potential energy barrier for all three cations. The barrier varies with cation size and is due to high van der Waals and ion deformation energies. If the channel is minimized in the presence of the ions, the potential energy barrier to formamidinium entry is almost eliminated, but a residual barrier remains for guanidinium and acetamidinium. The residual barrier is primarily due, not to the expansion of the helix, but, to the disruption of hydrogen bonds between the terminal ethanoloamine and the next turn of the helix which occurs when the carbonyls of the outer turn of the helix librate inward toward the ion as it enters the channel. The residual potential energy barriers could be a possible explanation for the measured selectivity of gramicidin for formamidinium over guanidinium. The results of this full-atomic model address the applicability of the size-exclusion concept for the selectivity of the gramicidin channel.

Topics: Amidines; Biophysical Phenomena; Biophysics; Gramicidin; Guanidine; Guanidines; Ion Channels; Models, Biological; Models, Molecular; Molecular Probes; Permeability; Thermodynamics

Guanidinium and acetamidinium, when added to the bathing solution in concentrations of approximately 0.1M, cause brief blocks in the single channel potassium currents from channels formed in planar lipid bilayers by gramicidin A. Single channel lifetimes are not affected indicating that the channel structure is not modified by the blockers. Guanidinium block durations and interblock times are approximately exponential in distribution. Block frequencies increase with guanidinium concentration whereas block durations are unaffected. Increases in membrane potential cause an increase in block frequency as expected for a positively charged blocker but a decrease in block duration suggesting that the block is relieved when the blocker passes through the channel. At low pH, urea, formamide, and acetamide cause similar blocks suggesting that the protonated species of these molecules also block. Arginine and several amines do not block. This indicates that only iminium ions which are small enough to enter the channel can cause blocks in gramicidin channels.

Topics: Amidines; Formamides; Gramicidin; Guanidine; Guanidines; Kinetics; Lipid Bilayers; Membrane Potentials; Models, Biological; Potassium Channels; Time Factors; Urea