[Action of new class of substituted salicylanilides on ion conductivity of lipid membranes].

A new class of high-activity substituted salicylanilides has been studied in bilayer lipid membranes (BLM). Very low concentrations of these substances are shown to increase the BLM d. c. electroconductivity. Approximately Nernts value of transmembrane potential was measured when ten-fold pH gradient was produced. The experiments favour the opinion that these substituted salicylanilides act as protonophores. The obtained data suggest that DMSO facilitates its transport through the lipid bilayer. Furthermore, two different mechanisms are shown to take place in the H+ transport, when DMSO or water has been used as a solvent for these substances. The results suggest that other processes which are investigated now are involved.