title: Voltage-dependent and multi-state ionic channels induced by trichorzianines, anti-fungal peptides related to alamethicin.
abstract: The ionophore properties of two peptaibols of the trichorzianine family have been investigated in planar lipid bilayers and compared to those of alamethicin. Macroscopic conductance experiments reveal voltage-dependent channels only in the thinnest membranes and a greater efficiency of the neutral analog. In single-channel experiments, a multi-state behaviour, consistent with the usual barrel-stave model, is disclosed but the discrete current fluctuations are much more rapid than for alamethicin. The results indicate a stringent requirement for the helix length/bilayer thickness match in agreement with a previous model and suggest the design of new synthetic peptides.
mesh_terms: D000408:Alamethicin; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D054848:Peptaibols; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007473:Ion Channels; D007476:Ionophores; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D054848:Peptaibols; D010455:Peptides; D000408:Alamethicin; C039715:trichorzianine