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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity
Published on: June 18, 2012
Permeability of nitric oxide through lipid bilayer membranes
W K Subczynski1, M Lomnicka, J S Hyde
1Department of Biophysics, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
Abstract:
Profiles of the local nitric oxide (.NO) diffusion-concentration product across the egg yolk phosphatidylcholine membrane in the absence and presence of 30 mol% cholesterol were obtained using line-broadening electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and lipid-soluble nitroxide spin labels. Membrane .NO permeability coefficients were calculated from these profiles. At 20 degrees C, values of 93 and 77 cm/s for membranes in the absence and presence of cholesterol were obtained, compared with 73 and 66 cm/s for water layers of the same thickness as the membranes. Fluid-phase membranes are not barriers to .NO transport. Cholesterol significantly increases .NO transport in the center of the lipid bilayer.
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