Abstract
The effects of humic acids (HA) on the membrane permeability of potato cells and on the phase transition in liposomes of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were studied. A HA concentration of 40 mg 1 −1 was sufficient to produce a maximum K + efflux from potato cells. The effect was independent of external Ca 2+ and would therefore appear to be unrelated to the ability of HA to chelate apoplastic Ca 2+. In potato cells with cholesterol-enriched membranes, the above-mentioned effect of HA (40 mg 1 −1) on K + efflux was reduced by 60%. Dilatometric measurements of phase transition in DPPC liposomes showed that both HA and Triton X-100 were able to cancel the sudden increase of liposome volume at phase transition as normally occurring for liposomes in pure water. From these observations, it would appear that HA by means of their surface activity, can alter such cell membrane properties as membrane fluidity.
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