Effects of fatty acids on membrane currents in the squid giant axon

Actions and Mechanisms of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Voltage-Gated Ion Channels

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) act on most ion channels, thereby having significant physiological and pharmacological effects. In this review we summarize data from numerous PUFAs on voltage-gated ion channels containing one or several voltage-sensor domains, such as voltage-gated sodium (Na_V), potassium (K_V), calcium (Ca_V), and proton (H_V) channels, as well as calcium-activated potassium (K_Ca), and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. Some effects of fatty acids appear to be channel specific, whereas others seem to be more general. Common features for the fatty acids to act on the ion channels are at least two double bonds in cis geometry and a charged carboxyl group. In total we identify and label five different sites for the PUFAs. PUFA site 1: The intracellular cavity. Binding of PUFA reduces the current, sometimes as a time-dependent block, inducing an apparent inactivation. PUFA site 2: The extracellular entrance to the pore. Binding leads to a block of the channel. PUFA site 3: The intracellular gate. Binding to this site can bend the gate open and increase the current. PUFA site 4: The interface between the extracellular leaflet of the lipid bilayer and the voltage-sensor domain. Binding to this site leads to an opening of the channel via an electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged PUFA and the positively charged voltage sensor. PUFA site 5: The interface between the extracellular leaflet of the lipid bilayer and the pore domain. Binding to this site affects slow inactivation. This mapping of functional PUFA sites can form the basis for physiological and pharmacological modifications of voltage-gated ion channels.

Sensory TRP channel interactions with endogenous lipids and their biological outcomes

Lipids have long been studied as constituents of the cellular architecture and energy stores in the body. Evidence is now rapidly growing that particular lipid species are also important for molecular and cellular signaling. Here we review the current information on interactions between lipids and transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in nociceptive sensory afferents that mediate pain signaling. Sensory neuronal TRP channels play a crucial role in the detection of a variety of external and internal changes, particularly with damaging or pain-eliciting potentials that include noxiously high or low temperatures, stretching, and harmful substances. In addition, recent findings suggest that TRPs also contribute to altering synaptic plasticity that deteriorates chronic pain states. In both of these processes, specific lipids are often generated and have been found to strongly modulate TRP activities, resulting primarily in pain exacerbation. This review summarizes three standpoints viewing those lipid functions for TRP modulations as second messengers, intercellular transmitters, or bilayer building blocks. Based on these hypotheses, we discuss perspectives that account for how the TRP-lipid interaction contributes to the peripheral pain mechanism. Still a number of blurred aspects remain to be examined, which will be answered by future efforts and may help to better control pain states.

New Insights into Fatty Acid Modulation of Pancreatic β‐Cell Function

Insulin resistance states as found in type 2 diabetes and obesity are frequently associated with hyperlipidemia. Both stimulatory and detrimental effects of free fatty acids (FFA) on pancreatic beta cells have long been recognized. Acute exposure of the pancreatic beta cell to both high glucose concentrations and saturated FFA results in a substantial increase of insulin release, whereas a chronic exposure results in desensitization and suppression of secretion. Reduction of plasma FFA levels in fasted rats or humans severely impairs glucose-induced insulin release but palmitate can augment insulin release in the presence of nonstimulatory concentrations of glucose. These results imply that changes in physiological plasma levels of FFA are important for regulation of beta-cell function. Although it is widely accepted that fatty acid (FA) metabolism (notably FA synthesis and/or formation of LC-acyl-CoA) is necessary for stimulation of insulin secretion, the key regulatory molecular mechanisms controlling the interplay between glucose and fatty acid metabolism and thus insulin secretion are not well understood but are now described in detail in this review. Indeed the correct control of switching between FA synthesis or oxidation may have critical implications for beta-cell function and integrity both in vivo and in vitro. LC-acyl-CoA (formed from either endogenously synthesized or exogenous FA) controls several aspects of beta-cell function including activation of certain types of PKC, modulation of ion channels, protein acylation, ceramide- and/or NO-mediated apoptosis, and binding to and activating nuclear transcriptional factors. The present review also describes the possible effects of FAs on insulin signaling. We have previously reported that acute exposure of islets to palmitate up-regulates some key components of the intracellular insulin signaling pathway in pancreatic islets. Another aspect considered in this review is the potential source of fatty acids for pancreatic islets in addition to supply in the blood. Lipids can be transferred from leukocytes (macrophages) to pancreatic islets in coculture. This latter process may provide an additional source of FAs that may play a significant role in the regulation of insulin secretion.

Fatty acids as an energy source for the operation of axoplasmic transport

Fatty acids are utilized as a cellular energy source. In the present study, we investigated whether fatty acids could affect axoplasmic transport. Cultured mouse superior cervical ganglion neurons were placed in the glucose-containing medium (145 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1 mM CaCl(2), 1 mM MgCl(2), 5 mM D-glucose, 10 mM Hepes, pH 7.3, 37 degrees C), and axoplasmic transport of particles in neurites was observed under video-enhanced contrast microscopy. A variety of fatty acids (acetate (C2), caproate (C6), caprylate (C8), caprate (C10), 2-decenoate (C10:1), arachidonate (C20:4); 0.1-1 mM) caused a transient increase in the amount of particles transported in both anterograde and retrograde directions. The increasing effects of fatty acids were dose-dependent. A half-maximum effective dose (ED(50)) for acetate was 0.8 mM, which is similar to the reported K(m) value of acetyl-CoA synthetase for acetate. The ED(50) for caprylate was 28 microM, which is near the K(m) value of acyl-CoA synthetase for medium- and long-chain fatty acids. Application of 5 mM malonate, an inhibitor of the citrate cycle, induced a steady-state decrease in axoplasmic transport, indicating that energy derived from the citrate cycle is required for the maintenance of axoplasmic transport. The increasing effect of acetate (1 mM) on axoplasmic transport was completely abolished by pretreatment with malonate (5 mM), suggesting that acetate produces ATP for axoplasmic transport via the citrate cycle. Alternatively, the effect of caprate (1 mM) was retained after treatment with malonate. Thus, fatty acids except acetate produce ATP probably through both the beta-oxidation pathway and the citrate cycle, increasing axoplasmic transport. Since the effect of fatty acids was transient, certain negative feedback mechanisms might be involved. The removal of glucose from the medium resulted in a low steady-state level of axoplasmic transport. Under such condition, the acetate (1 mM)-induced transient increase in axoplasmic transport remained. Since intracellular ATP must be low under glucose-free condition, intracellular ATP concentrations are unlikely to be involved in the feedback system. Instead, acetyl-CoA or its downstream products in the citrate cycle might lead to feedback inhibition. Application of citrate (5 mM) caused a strong decrease following a transient increase in axoplasmic transport, whereas no other acetyl-CoA product decreased axoplasmic transport. Thus, excessive citrate may be one of factors leading to feedback inhibition of metabolic pathways to arrest and reverse the increase in axoplasmic transport induced by fatty acids.

Pleiotropic effects of fatty acids on pancreatic beta-cells

Hyperlipidemia is frequently associated with insulin resistance states as found in type 2 diabetes and obesity. Effects of free fatty acids (FFA) on pancreatic beta-cells have long been recognized. Acute exposure of the pancreatic beta-cell to FFA results in an increase of insulin release, whereas a chronic exposure results in desensitization and suppression of secretion. We recently showed that palmitate augments insulin release in the presence of non-stimulatory concentrations of glucose. Reduction of plasma FFA levels in fasted rats or humans severely impairs glucose-induced insulin release. These results imply that physiological plasma levels of FFA are important for beta-cell function. Although, it has been accepted that fatty acid oxidation is necessary for its stimulation of insulin secretion, the possible mechanisms by which fatty acids (FA) affect insulin secretion are discussed in this review. Long-chain acyl-CoA (LC-CoA) controls several aspects of the beta-cell function including activation of certain types of protein kinase C (PKC), modulation of ion channels, protein acylation, ceramide- and/or nitric oxide (NO)-mediated apoptosis, and binding to nuclear transcriptional factors. The present review also describes the possible effects of FA on insulin signaling. We showed for the first time that acute exposure of islets to palmitate upregulates the intracellular insulin-signaling pathway in pancreatic islets. Another aspect considered in this review is the source of FA for pancreatic islets. In addition to be exported to the medium, lipids can be transferred from leukocytes (macrophages) to pancreatic islets in co-culture. This process consists an additional source of FA that may plays a significant role to regulate insulin secretion.

Monocarboxylic acids enhance the anesthetic action of procaine by decreasing intracellular pH

Sodium monocarboxylates are known to enhance the anesthetic action of procaine, and also decrease intracellular pH (pHi). We studied the effect of 30 mM Na monocarboxylates (formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and salicylate) on the pHi and on the anesthetic action of procaine HCl using giant axons of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). The pHi was measured using pH sensitive microelectrode method and the anesthetic action was evaluated by the change in the action potential (AP) amplitude. The tested acids except for formate showed apparent decrease in pHi and enhancement of the action of 2 mM procaine. Other organic acids (maleate and benzensulfonate) did not affect pHi and anesthetic action of procaine. In the bicarbonate free solution, pHi increased and the anesthetic action was weakened. The EC25 values (the concentration of procaine which depresses the AP amplitude by 25%) of acetate, propionate, and bicarbonate free solution were coincided with the predicted EC25 values from the simple simulation on intracellular procaine increase according to the pHi change. But the EC25 value of salicylate group was less than half of the predicted. These results suggested that the enhancing action of straight chain monocarboxylic acids is due to pHi decrease, and salicylate has other additional mechanisms.

Conductive Na+ transport in fetal lung alveolar apical membrane vesicles is regulated by fatty acids and G proteins

We have characterised G protein and fatty acid regulation of the Na+ conductance in purified apical membrane vesicles prepared from late gestation fetal guinea-pig lung. Addition of 100 microM GTP gamma S or beta gamma-methylene-GTP, irreversible G protein activators, stimulated conductive 22Na+ uptake (ratio of experimental to control 1.35 +/- 0.02 and 1.34 +/- 0.05, respectively). Conversely, the addition of GDP beta S, an irreversible G protein inhibitor, reduced conductive 22Na+ uptake from 1.00 (control) to 0.79 +/- 0.04. A range of saturated (myristic, palmitic, stearic), monounsaturated (elaidic, oleic) and polyunsaturated (linoleic, arachidonic) fatty acids all stimulated conductive 22Na+ uptake, by between 1.18 +/- 0.05 to 1.56 +/- 0.13 over the control. Both arachidonic acid and GTP gamma S-dependent stimulation were abolished in the presence of 10 microM amiloride. The non-metabolisable analogue of arachidonic acid, eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraynoic acid also stimulated conductive 22Na+ uptake. Furthermore, addition of indomethacin and nordihydroguairetic acid, inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonate metabolism respectively, did not affect the arachidonic acid stimulation suggesting a direct effect of fatty acid upon the Na+ channel Since mepacrine (50 microM), a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, did not affect the GTP gamma S-stimulated conductive 22Na+ uptake, and inhibition of G protein turnover by GDP beta S did not attenuate the arachidonic acid response we conclude that these two regulatory pathways modulate alveolar Na+ transport directly and independently of each other.

Caprylic acid, a medium chain saturated fatty acid, inhibits the sodium inward current in neuroglioma (NG108-15) cells

The effects of caprylic acid (CA) on ionic currents were investigated, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, in differentiated neuroglioma cells. External application of CA reduced the peak amplitude of the inward Na+ current, while outward currents were not affected. CA (1 and 5 mM) reversibly attenuated the peak of the inward Na+ current by 21% (n = 26) and 46% (n = 31), respectively. The inactivation curve in the presence of CA was shifted by 8 mV toward hyperpolarized potentials, with half-inactivation voltage being -47.9 and -55.9 before and after external application of CA (5 mM), respectively. This shift was readily reversed after 5 min wash. The slope remained unchanged (-8.4 and -8.8 mV, respectively, n = 4). The activation process was unaffected (CA 5 mM, n = 8). Under current-clamp conditions, CA 5 mM (but not 1 mM) reversibly reduced the amplitude, and the slope of the rising phase of the action potential. These results agree with the fact that free fatty acids can modulate the activity of ion channels by mechanisms which do not involve enzymatic or membrane disruptive pathways.

Multiple effects of protein kinase C activators on Na+ currents in mouse neuroblastoma cells

The effects of externally applied different protein kinase C (PKC) activators on Na+ currents in mouse neuroblastoma cells were studied using the perforated-patch (nystatin-based) whole cell voltage clamp technique. Two diacylglycerol-like compounds, OAG (1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol), and DOG (1-2-dioctanoyl-rac-glycerol) attenuated Na+ currents without affecting the time course of activation or inactivation. The reduction in Na+ current amplitude caused by OAG or DOG was dependent on membrane potential, being more intense at positive voltages. The steady-state activation curve was also unaffected by these substances. However, both OAG and DOG shifted the steady-state inactivation curve of Na+ currents to more hyperpolarized voltages. Surprisingly, phorbol esters did not affect Na+ currents. Cis-unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic) attenuated Na+ currents without modifying the steady-state activation. As with DOG and OAG, cis-unsaturated fatty acids also shifted the steady-state inactivation curve to more negative voltages. Interestingly, inward currents were more effectively attenuated by cis-fatty acids than outward currents. Oleic acid, also a cis-unsaturated fatty acid, enhanced Na+ currents. This enhancement was not accompanied by changes in kinetic or steady-state properties of currents. Enhancement of Na+ currents caused by oleate was voltage dependent, being stronger at negative voltages. The inhibitory or stimulatory effects caused by all PKC activators on Na+ currents were completely prevented by pretreating cells with PKC inhibitors (calphostin C, H7, staurosporine or polymyxin B). By themselves, PKC inhibitors did not affect membrane currents. Trans-unsaturated or saturated fatty acids, which do not activate PKC's, did not modify Na+ currents. Taken together, the experimental results suggest that PKC activation modulates the behavior of Na+ channels by at least three distinct mechanisms. Because qualitatively different results were obtained with different PKC activators, it is not clear how Na+ currents would respond to activation of PKC under physiological conditions.

Structural requirements for charged lipid molecules to directly increase or suppress K+ channel activity in smooth muscle cells. Effects of fatty acids, lysophosphatidate, acyl coenzyme A and sphingosine

We determined the structural features necessary for fatty acids to exert their action on K+ channels of gastric smooth muscle cells. Examination of the effects of a variety of synthetic and naturally occurring lipid compounds on K+ channel activity in cell-attached and excised membrane patches revealed that negatively charged analogs of medium to long chain fatty acids (but not short chain analogs) as well as certain other negatively charged lipids activate the channels. In contrast, positively charged, medium to long chain analogs suppress activity, and neutral analogs are without effect. The key requirements for effective compounds seem to be a sufficiently hydrophobic domain and the presence of a charged group. Furthermore, those negatively charged compounds unable to "flip" across the bilayer are effective only when applied at the cytosolic surface of the membrane, suggesting that the site of fatty acid action is also located there. Finally, because some of the effective compounds, for example, the fatty acids themselves, lysophosphatidate, acyl Coenzyme A, and sphingosine, are naturally occurring substances and can be liberated by agonist-activated or metabolic enzymes, they may act as second messengers targeting ion channels.

Stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion by acetyl-L-carnitine in hypothalamic neurons and GT1 neuronal cells

Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion from perifused hypothalamic cells and GT1-1 neuronal cells was significantly increased after culture in medium containing 100 microM acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC). This action of ALC was largely due to an increase in the spike amplitude of GnRH release. In addition, the receptor-mediated release of GnRH by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid and endothelin was significantly increased in perifused cells cultured in ALC-enriched medium. Stimulatory effects of ALC on basal, high K(+)- and agonist-induced GnRH release were also observed during long-term culture of primary hypothalamic neurons. Similar effects of ALC were evident in cultured GT1-1 cells and were accompanied by a significant increase in cell number. These observations in normal and transformed GnRH neurons demonstrate that ALC promotes the growth and secretory activity of neuropeptide-producing cells of the hypothalamus.

The effect of arachidonic acid on the M current of NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells

The M current, IM, a voltage-dependent non-inactivating K+ current, was recorded in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells, using the whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique. We studied the effect of arachidonic acid, other fatty acids and inhibitors of the arachidonic acid metabolism. In relatively high concentrations (25-50 microM) arachidonic acid first increased and later decreased the current, Ih, which holds the membrane potential at -30 mV and mainly flows through open M channels. It shifted the midpoint potential, Vo, of the relation between M conductance, gM, and membrane potential, V, to more negative values and decreased the maximum conductance gM and the time constant tau M. In smaller concentrations (5-10 microM) arachidonic acid merely decreased Ih and gM with little effect on Vo and tau M. Eicosatetraynoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid acted similarly to arachidonic acid whereas stearic acid had no effect. Of the three enzyme inhibitors studied, nordihydroguaiaretic acid acted similarly to arachidonic acid. i.e. caused a biphasic change in Ih. Indomethacin and quinacrine caused, respectively, a pure increase and a pure decrease of Ih and gM. Possible explanations are build-up of internally produced arachidonic acid, depletion of eicosanoid products or an inhibitory effect unrelated to arachidonic acid metabolism.

Uncoupling of cardiac cells by fatty acids: structure-activity relationships

The permeability and conductance of gap junctions between pairs of neonatal rat heart cells were rapidly and reversibly decreased by oleic acid in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Other unsaturated fatty acids (C-18: cis 6, 9, or 11, and C-18, 16, and 14, cis 9), saturated fatty acids (C-10, 12, and 14), and saturated fatty alcohols (C-8, 10, and 12) also caused uncoupling. The most effective compounds of the unsaturated and saturated fatty acid and saturated fatty alcohol series caused essentially complete uncoupling at comparable aqueous concentrations. However, oleic acid uncoupled cells at membrane concentrations as low as 1 mol%, whereas decanoic acid required upwards of 35 mol%. The channels that support the action potential remained functional at these same membrane concentrations. The data are discussed in terms of the possible mechanism by which these compounds cause uncoupling and the possible role of uncoupling by nonesterified free fatty acids in the initiation of arrhythmias during and after ischemic insults.

Direct regulation of ion channels by fatty acids

A variety of fatty acids regulate the activity of specific ion channels by mechanisms not involving the enzymatic pathways that convert arachidonic acid to oxygenated metabolites. Furthermore, these actions of fatty acids occur in patches of membrane excised from the cell and are not mediated by cellular signal transduction pathways that require soluble factors such as nucleotides and calcium. Thus, fatty acids themselves appear to regulate the action of channels directly, much as they regulate the action of several purified enzymes, and might constitute a new class of first or second messengers acting on ion channels.

Fatty acids modulate excitability in guinea-pig hippocampal slices

A variety of fatty acids produced sustained changes in excitability in the guinea-pig hippocampal slice. Although each fatty acid was unique, a general pattern was evident. During a 30-min exposure, the synaptic potential was minimally affected, although population spike amplitude showed significant increases. With wash, synaptic efficacy increased. The increase in the synaptic potential was significant with arachidonic acid (100 microM), oleic acid (100 microM), myristic acid (250 microM) and capric acid (250 microM). Also with wash, the coupling between the synaptic potential and the population spike was reduced significantly for most of the fatty acids tested: arachidonic acid (50 microM, 100 microM), linoleic acid (100 microM) oleic acid (100 microM), stearic acid (100 microM), myristic acid (250 microM) and capric acid (250 microM, 500 microM). The fatty acids may influence neuronal excitability, in part, through a direct membrane action. The observed synaptic enhancement is consistent with a role for a fatty acid in long-term potentiation. In addition, fatty acid exposure mimics the effects of X-radiation. We suggest that free radical-induced release of fatty acids contributes to electrophysiological damage in a number of pathological states.

cis-Fatty acids, which activate protein kinase C, attenuate Na+ and Ca2+ currents in mouse neuroblastoma cells

1. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol esters or diacylglycerols has been shown to modulate a number of ionic currents carried by Ca2+, K+ and Cl-. Recently, it has been demonstrated that PKC may be activated by cis-fatty acids in the absence of either phospholipid or Ca2+. We wished to determine if this new class of PKC-activating compound would also modulate ionic currents. To this end we applied the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique to N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. 2. Analysis of families of currents evoked under voltage clamp by depolarizing steps from a holding potential of -85 mV during external application of 5 microM-oleate (a cis-fatty acid) showed a 36% reduction of the peak inward current with no shift in either the peak or the reversal potential of the current-voltage relation and no alteration of outward current. 3. External application of the cis-fatty acids oleate, linoleate and linolenate reversibly attenuated voltage-dependent Na+ current with approximate half-maximal dose values of 2, 3, and 10 microM respectively. Oleate was approximately 2 times more potent when applied internally (ED50 = 1 microM). Externally applied elaidate (a trans-isomer of oleate) and stearate (a saturated fatty acid) which do not activate PKC, had no effect. Since cis-fatty acids are known to fluidize membranes, as well as to activate PKC, we sought to dissociate these functions by applying compounds that fluidize membranes but do not activate PKC: methyloleate and lysophosphatidylcholine. Neither compound affected Na+ current when applied externally at concentrations of 1-50 microM. 4. In contrast to cis-fatty acids, three classical PKC activators, phorbol-12.13-dibutyrate (PDB), phorbol-12.13-diacetate (PDA), and 1.2-oleoylacetylglycerol (OAG) were found to have no effect on the voltage-dependent Na+ current when applied externally at 10 nM-1 microM (phorbol esters) or 1-150 microM (OAG) for incubation periods up to 1 h. 5. External application of the PKC inhibitors polymyxin B, H-7, sphingosine and staurosporine blocked the attenuation of the Na+ current by cis-fatty acid in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal inhibition occurring at doses of 50, 10, 200 and 0.1 microM, respectively. The cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase inhibitor H-8 was much less effective in blocking the cis-fatty acid effect. Polymyxin B and staurosporine were more potent when applied internally. 6. Chronic (24 h) exposure to 1 microM phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (TPA) was employed to down-regulate PKC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Regulation of transmembrane ion transport by reaction products of phospholipase A2. II. Effects of arachidonic acid and other fatty acids on mitochondrial Ca2+ transport

The effects of arachidonic acid and other fatty acids on mitochondrial Ca2+ transport were studied. Cis-unsaturated fatty acids generally strongly inhibited mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, induced a net Ca2+ efflux, and thereby increased the extramitochondrial Ca2+ concentration, whereas trans-unsaturated fatty acids were ineffective. Saturated fatty acids exhibited slight activity at chain lengths from C(10) to C(14) only. The structure-activity relationship and the inability of some of the effective fatty acids such as palmitoleic and myristoleic acid to be metabolized to eicosanoids suggest that Ca2+ release was induced by the fatty acids themselves and resulted from changes in the mitochondrial membrane bilayer structure. There was a correlation between Ca2+-releasing potency and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, which is the main driving force for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. There were, however, considerable differences compared with the effects of lysophospholipids on the membrane potential. The mechanism of action of fatty acids may be that of a fluidizing effect on the hydrophobic core of the membrane, thereby modulating the activity of integral membrane proteins of the respiratory chain.

Arachidonic acid and other fatty acids directly activate potassium channels in smooth muscle cells

Arachidonic acid, as well as fatty acids that are not substrates for cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes, activated a specific type of potassium channel in freshly dissociated smooth muscle cells. Activation occurred in excised membrane patches in the absence of calcium and all nucleotides. Therefore signal transduction pathways that require such soluble factors, including the NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 pathway, do not mediate the response. Thus, fatty acids directly activate potassium channels and so may constitute a class of signal molecules that regulate ion channels.

Effects of arachidonic acid and the other long-chain fatty acids on the membrane currents in the squid giant axon

The effects of arachidonic acid and some other long-chain fatty acids on the ionic currents of the voltage-clamped squid giant axon were investigated using intracellular application of the test substances. The effects of these acids, which are usually insoluble in solution, were examined by using alpha-cyclodextrin as a solvent, alpha-cyclodextrin itself had no effect on the excitable membrane. Arachidonic acid mainly suppresses the Na current but has little effect on the K current. These effects are completely reversed after washing with control solution. The concentration required to suppress the peak inward current by 50% (ED50) was 0.18 mM, which was 10 times larger than that of medium-chain fatty acids like 2-decenoic acid. The Hill number was 1.5 for arachidonic acid, which is almost the same value as for medium-chain fatty acids. This means that the mechanisms of the inhibition are similar in both long- and medium-chain fatty acids. When the long-chain fatty acids were compared, the efficacy of suppression of Na current was about the same value for arachidonic acid, docosatetraenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The suppression effects of linoleic acid and linolenic acid on Na currents were one-third of that of arachidonic acid. Oleic acid had a small suppression effect and stearic acid had almost no effect on the Na current. The currents were fitted to equations similar to those proposed by Hodgkin and Huxley (Hodgkin, A.L., Huxley, A.F. (1952) J. Physiol (London) 117:500-544) and the change in the parameters of these equations in the presence of fatty acids were calculated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interaction of amphiphiles with integral membrane proteins. II. A simple, minimal model for the nonspecific interaction of amphiphiles with the anion exchanger of the erythrocyte membrane

In a previous paper we have reported on the structural perturbation of the erythrocyte membrane anion exchanger by a regular series of model amphiphiles, as shown by differential scanning calorimetry (Gruber, H.J. and Low, P.S., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, preceding article). Now the data are interpreted by a model in which the effects of amphiphile structure upon buffer-membrane partitioning are well separated from the dependence of the intrinsic potencies of membrane-bound amphiphiles upon amphiphile structure. The buffer-membrane partitioning situation was demonstrated to regularly change between extremes within a series of homologous amphiphiles, i.e. from a negligible to a predominant fraction of total amphiphile in the sample residing in the membrane. Based upon this demonstration a large number of reports on the chain length dependence of apparent potency could be reinterpreted in terms of chain length profiles of intrinsic potency, allowing for a comparison of the responses of various membrane proteins to homologous series of amphiphiles. The response patterns for chain length variation could be divided into three distinct classes: the intrinsic potency (i) can be independent of chain length over a very wide range of length, (ii) it can be rather independent up to a critical length where a sudden cut-off in potency occurs, or (iii) it can drop monotonically over a wide range of chain length. The intrinsic potency values of saturated fatty acids in destabilizing the anion exchanger were interpreted by very simple assumptions: only direct interactions between amphiphiles and target proteins and a simple amphiphile partition equilibrium between a pool of equivalent low affinity sites on the protein and the bulk lipid matrix. The observed monotonic decay of the intrinsic potency of saturated fatty acids with increasing chain length from C8 to C20 was translated into a constant increment of free energy by which each additional CH2 favors the transfer away from sites on the protein towards the bulk lipid matrix. Arguments were presented suggesting that the direct interaction between amphiphiles and target protein is completely nonspecific for alkyl chain length while the residual specificity for shorter over longer amphiphiles is due to the higher tendency of longer chains to preferentially bind in the bulk lipid matrix. Thus a completely new role of the lipid as a competitor, rather than a mediator, was postulated.

Inhibition of cortical collecting tubule chloride transport by organic acids

Cl self-exchange by the rabbit cortical collecting tubule (CCT) occurs via an apical anion exchanger in series with a basolateral Cl conductance. We studied the effects of organic acids on CCT Cl self-exchange. We found no evidence for transport of acid anions by the self-exchange system. Rather, Cl self-exchange was inhibited by a variety of organic acids. The degree of inhibition correlated with the chloroform/water partition coefficient and was enhanced by lowering pH, indicating inhibition by the lipid-soluble, protonated species. Inhibition by the representative acid iso-butyrate was dose-dependent and showed sidedness (basolateral greater than apical). Iso-butyrate also reversibly reduced transepithelial conductance without altering K permeability, suggesting inhibition of the principal cell basolateral Cl conductance. Because small organic compounds with similar lipid solubilities but no carboxyl group had no effect, both the carboxyl group and the lipid-solubility of organic acids appear to be important. The results are consistent with blockade of chloride channels by organic acids.

Cell membrane expansion and blockade of action potentials produced by 2-decenoic acid in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons

2-Decenoic acid, a fatty acid having 10 carbon atoms, blocks the action potentials of cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and this effect of 2-decenoic acid is reversible. From the analysis of the video pictures from Nomarski optics, relative values of the diameter and the thickness of the neurons increased to 1.06 and 1.14, respectively, when 2.1 mM 2-decenoic acid was applied to the neurons. The relative value of cell surface area, which was calculated from the equation for a spheroid, increased to about 1.20. On the other hand, relative fluorescence intensity of the fluorescent probe F18 (5-(octadecylthiocarbamoylamino)fluorescein) labeled neurons decreased to 0.81, when 2.1 mM 2-decenoic acid was applied to the neurons. This indicates that the relative cell surface area increased to 1.23, a value similar to that calculated from the results of the measurement of cell size. The time course of blocking action potentials after treatment of the fatty acid was similar to that of the cell membrane expansion. These results show that the fatty acid perturbs the cell membrane and expands the cell surface area and this expansion might reduce the opening ability of the Na+-channels in the membrane.