Are Levorin Channels with Selective Permeability Capable of Enhancing Muscle Activity in Complex with Carriers?

A review and experimental work is presented. In this work, we present data concerning selective permeability of lipid and cell membranes for ions and organic compounds under the action of channel-forming molecules. Polyene antibiotic (PA) levorin А2 with aromatic structure was shown to affect a range of physical-chemical parameters of lipid membranes. It was found that levorin А2 increases the permeability of lipid and cell membranes for monovalent cations as well as monosugar and other neutral molecules. The biological activity of levorin А2 and the rate of delivery of molecules to membranes depend on the surface tension and substrate environment of the membranes. It was showed that the surface tension of aqueous solutions surrounding the membrane reduces by half in the complex with levorin А2, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and citral. Comparative data on the effects of levorin А2 on lipid membranes and on muscle cell membranes are presented. It is supposed that levorin А2, being a channel-forming compound, can induce additional permeability channels in muscle cell membranes and, with intense muscle activity, enhance transport of cations and organic substrates through the membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]