title: Gas-tight triblock-copolymer membranes are converted to CO₂ permeable by insertion of plant aquaporins.
abstract: We demonstrate that membranes consisting of certain triblock-copolymers were tight for CO₂. Using a novel approach, we provide evidence for aquaporin facilitated CO₂ diffusion. Plant aquaporins obtained from heterologous expression were inserted into triblock copolymer membranes. These were employed to separate a chamber with a solution maintaining high CO₂ concentrations from one with depleted CO₂ concentrations. CO₂ diffusion was detected by measuring the pH change resulting from membrane CO₂ diffusion from one chamber to the other. An up to 21 fold increase in diffusion rate was determined. Besides the supply of this proof of principle, we could provide additional arguments in favour of protein facilitated CO₂ diffusion to the vivid on-going debate about the principles of membrane gas diffusion in living cells.
authors: Department of Biology, Applied Plant Sciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 10, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany. uehlein@bio.tudarmstadt.de
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Uehlein
authors: Beate
authors: B
authors: Otto
authors: Adrian
authors: A
authors: Eilingsfeld
authors: Fabian
authors: F
authors: Itel
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Meier
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Kaldenhoff
mesh_terms: D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D004058:Diffusion; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020346:Aquaporins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide