Assessing the mechanism of facilitated proton transport across GUVs trapped in a microfluidic device

Proton transport across lipid membranes is one of the most fundamental reactions that make up living organisms. In vitro, however, the study of proton transport reactions can be very challenging due to limitations imposed by proton concentrations, compartment size, and unstirred layers as well as buffer exchange and buffer capacity. In this study, we have developed a proton permeation assay based on the microfluidic trapping of giant vesicles enclosing the pH-sensitive dye pyranine to address some of these challenges. Time-resolved fluorescence imaging upon a rapid pH shift enabled us to investigate the facilitated H⁺ permeation mediated by either a channel or a carrier. Specifically, we compared the proton transport rates as a function of different proton gradients of the channel gramicidin D and the proton carrier carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the assay in monitoring proton transport reactions and distinguishing between a channel-like and a carrier-like mechanism. This groundbreaking result enabled us to elucidate the enigmatic mode of the proton permeation mechanism of the recently discovered natural fibupeptide lugdunin.