Voltage-Driven Flipping of Zwitterionic Artificial Channels in Lipid Bilayers to Rectify Ion Transport

Abstract

We developed a voltage-sensitive artificial transmembrane channel by mimicking the dipolar structure of natural alamethicin channel. The artificial channel featured a zwitterionic structure and could undergo voltage-driven flipping in the lipid bilayers. Importantly, this flipping of the channel could lead to their directional alignment in the bilayers and rectifying behavior for ion transport.

Controlling transmembrane ion transport via photo-regulated carrier mobility

“…[4][5][6] Stimuli-responsive ion transporters have also begun to emerge, with the aim of achieving spatio-temporal control over transport. 7 Examples of responsive ion channels include those triggered by light, 8 membrane tension, 9 potential 10 and small molecule ligands. [11][12][13][14][15][16] However, such systems remain underdeveloped, and readily accessible and versatile small molecule carrier analogues with responsive behavior are particularly rare.…”

Supramolecular Mechanosensitive Potassium Channel Formed by Fluorinated Amphiphilic Cyclophane

“…Channel proteins that transport ions across the cellular membranes play crucial roles in numerous biological processes, including energy conversions and signal transductions. , Typically, these ion channels respond to external stimuli such as light, − ligand molecules, − changes in pH, , membrane potential, − or mechanical forces, − and control their transmembrane ion transport properties in a precise manner. Inspired by the sophisticated functions of such ion channel proteins in nature, synthetic ion channels that are responsive to light, − ligand molecules, − changes in pH, − or voltage ,− have been developed, with an expectation of their applications in the treatment of ion-channel-related diseases and the purification of key materials in industries. , However, successful examples of mechanosensitive synthetic channels remain extremely rare, , despite the intriguing properties of natural mechanosensitive channels that can convert physical forces into the senses of touch and hearing, and regulate vascular blood flows . Moreover, mechanosensitive synthetic channels that can transport specific ions are totally unprecedented.…”

Engineering Bio‐inspired Self‐assembled Nanochannels for Smart Ion Transport

“…The geometrical transformation of the azobenzene moiety enables light‐controlled ion transport. Hou and co‐workers developed, in addition to a family of crown ethers, a voltage‐sensitive artificial ion channel based on the reorientation of the charged moieties of zwitterionic tubular molecules [23] . Compared with channel 2 with negative charges at both ends, zwitterionic channel 1 with positive and negative charges at the two ends aligned with the electric field, thus suggesting that channel 1 exhibited voltage‐sensitive transport behavior (Figure 3d).…”