Supramolecular methods: the 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS) transport assay

ABSTRACT

The liposomal membrane transport assay, which uses 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid to monitor the internal pH of the vesicles (the HPTS assay), is a widely used technique for analysing the activity of anionophore-facilitated transport across a phospholipid membrane. This paper describes the stepwise technique to conduct this transport assay, detailing both the perks and pitfalls of using this method to determine the activity of an anionophore and the transport mechanism.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Supramolecular chemistry
• anion transport
• HPTS assay
• vesicles

Acknowledgments

A.M.G., P.W., X.W., and P.A.G. acknowledge and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners of the land on which we research, teach, and collaborate at the University of Sydney.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

P.A.G. thanks the Australian Research Council [DP200100453] and the University of Sydney for funding. A.M.G. and P.W. thank the Australian Government for their Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships. R.Q. gratefully acknowledges funding from the Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León [project BU067P20] and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [PID2020-117610RB-I00]. D.A.-C. thanks Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León for a predoctoral contract.