Synthetic Ion Channels Based on Peptide-Supported Poly(Crown Ethers)

9418362 Hutchison这项授予俄勒冈大学的初创奖金将支持James E.Hutchison教授的研究。这项研究的主题是合成基于多肽支撑的聚冠醚的功能离子通道模型。该多肽用于对齐形成孔的冠醚堆叠。这种离子通道模型的独特之处在于，可以很容易地系统地改变模型的结构，以探索离子通过通道的传输与通道结构的依赖关系。通道的内径、通道衬里的分子组成、通道的长度以及聚合物中冠醚之间的分离将发生变化，以提供结构明确的离子通道模型。通过将这些离子通道嵌入到平面脂质双层中，并测量通过它们的离子通量与溶液中的离子和跨膜电位的函数，将测试通过这些离子通道的离子的性质。离子通道选择性地介导离子通过细胞膜的运输，并在形成生物电脉冲方面发挥重要作用。这一研究将促进对结构/功能关系的基本理解。

9418362 Hutchison This starter grant award to the University of Oregon will support the research of Professor James E. Hutchison. The theme of the research will be the synthesis of functional ion channel models based on polypeptide-supported poly(crown ethers). The polypeptide serves to align stacks of crown ethers that form the pore. The unique property of this ion-channel model is the ease with which the model's structure can be systematically varied to probe the dependence of ion transport through the channel with the structure of the channel. The channel's inside diameter, the molecular composition of the channel's lining, the length of the channel, and the separation between crown ethers within the polymer will be varied to give structurally well-defined ion channel models. The nature of the ion transport through these ion channels will be tested by imbedding them in planar lipid bilayers and measuring the ion fluxes through them as a function of ions in solution and transmembrane potential. Ion channels selectively mediate ionic transport through cell membranes and play a major role in shaping biological electrical impulses. This research will advance the fundamental understanding of the structure/function relationship.