Self-assembling Venturi-like peptide nanotubes

Abstract

We describe the design and synthesis of self-assembling peptide nanotubes that have an internal filter area and whose length and internal diameters, at the entrance and in the constricted area, are precisely controlled.

Artificial Signal Transduction across Membranes

“…[71,72] Single-channelr ecordings showed gating behaviour with ac onductance of 65 pS. [74][75][76] Very recently,s tacks of cyclic peptides with differenti nternal diameters were covalently linked to produce av enturi-like nanotube with an internal filter, [77] and peptide nanotubes with large internal diameters that could encapsulate C 60 fullerene (a "buckyball") were made by incorporating a,d-amino acids. [73] a,g-Amino acids improveo nt hese designsb yp roviding control over channel properties through functionalisation.…”

Peptides with regularly alternating enantiomeric sequence: From ion channel models to bioinspired nanotechnological applications

“…In particular, hybrid heterodimeric assemblies were achieved by self‐complementary cyclic α,γ‐peptides . The conjugation with hybrid functionalities allowed the design of novel materials to build biosensors, artificial photosystems, delivery and release nanomedicine systems, transmembrane channel transporters, nanotools for electronics, and responsive molecular machines containing properly designed reversible covalent bonds that are sensitive to environmental stimuli …”

“…Such cyclic peptides are structurally similar to the homologous l , d‐ α‐peptides. However, contrast to the cyclic l , d ‐α‐peptides, the insertion of γ‐units allows the functionalization of the inner pore of the cycle whose polarity and size can be tuned, generating more selective and specific systems …”

Tight Xenon Confinement in a Crystalline Sandwich‐like Hydrogen‐Bonded Dimeric Capsule of a Cyclic Peptide

“…We envisaged that the self-assembly of peptides bearing reactive moieties attached to the peptide backbone would not interfere in the formation of supramolecular dimers (D1 and D2)and would project these moieties towards both faces of the dimeric assembly.T he semirigid meta-s ubstituted pyridine group in CP2 was incorporated with the aim of introducing af urther functionality,w hich may be involved in additional supramolecular interactions,f or example,m etal coordination and halogen bonding,t od irect the self-assembly of larger structures. [14][15][16] Ther esulting peptides were studied by different techniques. 1 HNMR experiments confirmed that both CPs form the corresponding dimers,asevident by the downfield shift of the amide protons involved in the hydrogen bonds that result in the dimer formation (d = 8.11 and 8.62 ppm for CP1 and CP2,r espectively,F igure S1).…”