title: A tethered bilayer sensor containing alamethicin channels and its detection of amiloride based inhibitors.
abstract: Alamethicin, a small transmembrane peptide, inserts into a tethered bilayer membrane (tBLM) to form ion channels, which we have investigated using electrical impedance spectroscopy. The number of channels formed is dependent on the incubation time, concentration of the alamethicin and the application of DC voltage. The properties of the ion channels when formed in tethered bilayers are similar to those for such channels assembled into black lipid membranes (BLMs). Furthermore, amiloride and certain analogs can inhibit the channel pores, formed in the tBLMs. The potency and concentration of the inhibitors can be determined by measuring the change of impedance. Our work illustrates the possibility of using a synthetic tBLM for the study of small peptide voltage dependent ion channels. A potential application of such a device is as a screening tool in drug discovery processes.
authors.affiliation: Australian Membrane Biotechnology Research Institute, 126 Greville Street, Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia. ping.yin@csiro.au
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Peter D J
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cornell
mesh_terms: D000408:Alamethicin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D000584:Amiloride / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D000408:Alamethicin; D000584:Amiloride