Effect of surface-active substances on the surface charge density of purple membrane fragments

The surface charge density of purple membrane fragments and its alteration upon treatment of purple membranes with several surface-active substances [sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulphonate (CHAPS) were examined by use of 9-amino-acridine fluorescence.The value of the surface charge density of native purple membrane fragments (0.8 electric charges/nm²) obtained by this method is comparable to previously reported values and in agreement with the structural model of the purple membrane.An increase followed by a decrease in the negative surface charge density was observed after treatment of purple membranes with the negatively charged surfactant SDS within the concentration range 0–5 mM, whereas treatment with the positively charged surfactant CPC and zwitterionic derivative of cholic acid (CHAPS) led to a decrease in the surface charge density. The large reduction of the surface charge density after treatment of purple membranes with CHAPS (i.e. partial delipidation of purple membranes) proves the significant contribution of the negative charges of the lipid polar head groups to the negative surface charge of purple membranes.