Artificial Aquaporin That Restores Wound Healing of Impaired Cells
Zhao-Jun Yan, Dongdong Wang, Zhongju Ye, Ting Fan, Gang Wu, Liyun Deng, Yang Lü, Binxiao Li, Jianwei Liu, Tonghui Ma, Chaoqing Dong, Zhan‐Ting Li, Lehui Xiao, Yunfeng Wang, Wenning Wang, Jun‐Li Hou
Abstract
Artificial aquaporins are synthetic molecules that mimic the structure and function of natural aquaporins (AQPs) in cell membranes. The development of artificial aquaporins would provide an alternative strategy for treatment of AQP-related diseases. In this report, an artificial aquaporin has been constructed from an amino-terminated tubular molecule, which operates in a unimolecular mechanism. The artificial channel can work in cell membranes with high water permeability and selectivity rivaling those of AQPs. Importantly, the channel can restore wound healing of the cells that contain function-lost AQPs.