Effects of n-Alkanols on the Lateral Diffusion of Total Phospholipid Fraction Extracted from Brain Membranes

We investigated the effects of n-alkanols on the range and rate of the lateral diffusion of 1, 3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane in the model membranes of total phospholipid fraction extracted from synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles. n-Akanols increased the range and rate of the lateral diffusion of 1, 3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane in the bulk model membrane structures (inner + outer monolayers) and the potencies of n-alknols up to 1-nonanol increased by 1 order of magnitude as the carbon chain length increases by two carbon atoms. The cut-off phenomenon was reached at 1-decanol, where further icnrease in hydrocarbon length resulted in a decrease in the lateral diffusion. However, significant changes in the 1'/1 value were not observed by methanol (from 100 to 2500 mM), ethanol (from 25 to 800 mM), and 1-propanol (from 10 to 250 mM) over entire concentration.