title: Potential analytical applications of gated artificial ion channels.
abstract: Biosensors based on natural ion channels combine a biological recognition mechanism with a physical transduction technique in a very selective and sensitive manner. This kind of molecular sensor will contribute to drug screening and environmental screening. Key information about channel gating, ion transport, and molecular mechanism is provided by the patch-clamp technique, commonly used for electrophysiological analysis. Here we report the synthesis of light-gated artificial ion channels, necessary constituents for construction of biosensors based on natural ion channels. The artificial gated ion channels described here are based on calix[4]resorcinarene. Opening and closing of the artificial ion channel is achieved by azo groups, which work like a lid. Azo groups alter their conformation on irradiation with light, and are chemically quite stable. Addition of a gate function will enhance the potential of synthetic channels to be used in sensors as molecular switches.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Dresden University of Technology, 01062 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Husaru
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Habicher
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salzer
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D047250:Calixarenes; D019281:Dimerization; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000378:metabolism; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; C466160:resorcinarene; D047250:Calixarenes; D006096:Gramicidin; D010649:Phenylalanine