Foldamer-Based Potassium Channels with High Ion Selectivity and Transport Activity
Shuaiwei Qi, Chenyang Zhang, Hao Yu, Jing Zhang, Tengfei Yan, Ze Lin, Bing Yang, Zeyuan Dong
Abstract
Small molecules that independently perform natural channel-like functions show greatly potential in the treatment of human diseases. Taking advantage of aromatic helical scaffolds, we develop a kind of foldamer-based ion channels with lumen size varying from 3.8 to 2.3 Å through a sequence substitution strategy. Our results clearly elucidate the importance of channel size in ion transport selectivity in molecular detail, eventually leading to the discoveries of the best artificial K+ channel by far and a rare sodium-preferential channel as well. High K+ selectivity and transport activity together make foldamers promising in therapeutic applications.
Topics & Concepts
ChemistryFoldamerSelectivityIon channelPotassium channelSmall moleculeSodium channelIon transporterMoleculeSodiumIonCombinatorial chemistryBiophysicsNanotechnologyStereochemistryBiochemistryOrganic chemistryReceptorCatalysisBiologyMaterials scienceIon channel regulation and functionChemical Synthesis and AnalysisAdvanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques