The chemotactic factor receptor on leukocytes initiates several cellular responses including chemotaxis, lysosomal enzyme secretion, and O2- production. The latter two responses require approximately 10-100 times more chemoattractant than is required for chemotaxis. We determined the effects of membrane fluidizers on the binding characteristics and the functional activities of the oligopeptide fMet-Leu-Phe chemotactic factor receptor on polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Fluidization was induced by aliphatic alcohols and monitored by diphenylhexatriene fluorescence polarization. Low doses of n-butanol (0.25%) and n-pentanol (0.1%) were nontoxic to the leukocytes yet reduced their diphenylhexatriene-induced polarization, indicating increased membrane fluidity. At these doses of alcohols, the affinity of the fMet-Leu-Phe receptor was enhanced from Kd = 25.5 +/- 7.6 nM to Kd = 5.2 +/- 0.9 nM and Kd = 6.0 +/- 0.9 nM, respectively. Chemotaxis was also increased, as indicated by the decrease, by a factor of approximately 1/3 in the ED50 for fMet-Leu-Phe, as well as by a 1.5-fold increase in the maximal distance of migration in the presence of 0.25% butanol or 0.1% pentanol. In contrast to chemotaxis, the alcohols depressed fMet-Leu-Phe stimulation of O2- production by 90% although they had no effect on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced O2- production. Secretion of lysozyme was also inhibited. Thus, the affinity of the fMet-Leu-Phe receptor can be modulated by membrane fluidizers. The higher affinity state of the receptor induced by the alcohols is more efficient in transducing chemotactic signals but is deficient in mediating O2- production or secretion. Thus, the transduction mechanisms for the various biological activities of the chemotactic factor receptor are heterogeneous and can be differentially manipulated by membrane fluidizers.