Exploring fast proton transfer events associated with lateral proton diffusion on the surface of membranes

Proton diffusion (PD) across biological membranes is a fundamental process in many biological systems, and much experimental and theoretical effort has been employed for deciphering it. Here, we report on a spectroscopic probe, which can be tightly tethered to the membrane, for following fast (nanosecond) proton transfer events on the surface of membranes. Our probe is composed of a photoacid that serves as our light-induced proton source for the initiation of the PD process. We use our probe to follow PD, and its pH dependence, on the surface of lipid vesicles composed of a zwitterionic headgroup, a negative headgroup, a headgroup that is composed only from the negative phosphate group, or…