The Design and Synthesis of Artificial Proton Channels

Rutgers University的Akerfeldt教授的有机合成项目中的RPG将用于设计和合成人工质子通道。在这项工作中，PI将制备一些特定的肽序列，这些序列将在膜和电场中自组装以形成质子通道。这些模型组件可以被表征，并用于与自然和非表征系统相关联。目的是尝试几种不同的肽序列，以确定它们如何组装成导电孔。质子或离子通道调节离子穿过膜屏障的通量。这对细胞调节、细胞通讯和神经传递至关重要。这些系统模型的综合和表征将为外推目前太复杂而无法表征的自然系统提供基础知识。

This RPG in the Organic Synthesis Program to Professor Akerfeldt of Rutgers University will be used to design and synthesize artificial proton channels. In this work the PI will prepare a number of specific peptide sequences which will self assemble in a membrane and in an electric field to form proton channels. These model assemblies may be characterized and used to correlate with natural and uncharacterized systems. The objective is to try several different peptide sequences to determine how they assemble into conducting pores. Proton or ion channels regulate the flux of ions across membrane barriers. This is critical for cell regulation, cellular communication and nerve transmission. The synthesis and characterization of models of these systems will provide basic knowledge for extrapolation to the natural systems which at present are too complicated to characterize.