NA + -selective ionophoric material derived from electric organ and kidney membranes

Material that increases black lipid-membrane (oxidized cholesterol) conductance has been demonstrated in the acid-soluble fraction of tryptic digests of membrane fractions from Electrophorus electric organ and beef kidney. The conductance change elicited by this material is highly selective for Na(+). The activity of the material was greatly enhanced by passage through DEAE-cellulose. Activity could be destroyed by further incubation with Pronase. Since conductivity increases exponentially with dose of ionophore, the conductive unit may be an oligomer.