Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Construction of Model Lipid Membranes Incorporating G-protein Coupled Receptors GPCRs
Published on: February 5, 2022
Ionophores at work: Exploring the interaction of guanosine-based amphiphiles with phospholipid membranes
Giuseppe Vitiello1, Domenica Musumeci2, Alexandros Koutsioubas3
1Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy; CSGI, Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
Abstract:
An amphiphilic derivative of guanosine, carrying a myristoyl group at the 5'-position and two methoxy(triethylene glycol) appendages at the 2' and 3'-positions (1), endowed with high ionophoric activity, has been here studied in its interaction mode with a model lipid membrane along with its 5'-spin-labelled analogue 2, bearing the 5-doxyl-stearic in lieu of the myristic residue. Electron spin resonance spectra, carried out on the spin-labelled nucleolipid 2 in mixture with a DOPC/DOPG phospholipid bilayer, on one side, and on spin-labelled lipids mixed with 1, on the other, integrated with dynamic light scattering and neutron reflectivity measurements, allowed getting an in-depth picture of the effect of the ionophores on membrane structure, relevant to clarify the ion transport mechanism through lipid bilayers. Particularly, dehydration of lipid headgroups and lowering of both the local polarity and acyl chains order across the bilayer, due to the insertion of the oligo(ethylene glycol) chains in the bilayer hydrophobic core, have been found to be the main effects of the amphiphilic guanosines interaction with the membrane. These results furnish directions to rationally implement future ionophores design.
More Related Videos
11:10Detergent-free Ultrafast Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins into Lipid Bilayers Using Fusogenic Complementary-charged Proteoliposomes.
Published on: April 5, 2018
10:31A Liposome Membrane Permeability Assay for Investigating the Effects of Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Groups on Membranotropic Action of Venom PLA2
Published on: September 26, 2025
Related Concept Videos
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway
Phosphoinositides and PIPs
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
Pore Transport and Ion-Pair Transport
Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is...
Membrane Fluidity