ARE THERE ANY ANALOGIES BETWEEN ELECTROSORPTION LAYERS OF ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS AND SIGNAL-TRANSMITTING BIOMEMBRANES - ELECTROSORPTION BEHAVIOR AND INHIBITORY EFFECT OF EGG LECITHIN IN MIXTURE WITH ACETYLCHOLINE CHLORIDE, GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID AND POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL-1000

The special properties of electrosorption layers on mercury, acting as electrochemical oscillators, storage for electrical inputs, and inhibitors of different efficiency are represented. The composition of electrosorption layers in mixture of egg lecithin and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine strongly depends on concentration and electrode potential. Displacement of acetylcholine by egg lecithin results from a potential change in the positive direction. Opening of egg lecithin electrosorption layers for Cd2+ discharge by the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and γ-aminobutyric acid is observed in contrast to other organic compounds, for example polyethylene glycol. Possible analogies between electrosorption layers and signal-transmitting biomembranes are discussed. © 1979 Elsevier Sequoia S.A.