Localization of the membrane perturber adamantylsulfate in sarcoplasmic reticular vesicles

The properties of a new membrane perturbing agent, adamantyl sulfate (A-1-S) are described. Lobster sarcoplasmic reticular vesicles (SRV) were used as a test membrane system and the activity of the Ca2+--Mg2+-dependent ATPase in conjunction with spin label data was used to determine the location of A-1-S in the membrane. The results suggest that A-1-S perturbs only the polar region of the SRV and that this causes loss of ATPase function. Thus, ATPase activity requires integrity of the membrane polar region.