title: An artificial primitive mimic of the Gramicidin-A channel.
abstract: Gramicidin A (gA) is the simplest known natural channel, and important progress in improving conduction activity has previously been obtained with modified natural gAs. However, simple artificial systems mimicking the gA functions are unknown. Here we show that gA can be mimicked using a simple synthetic triazole or 'T-channel' forming compound (TCT), having similar constitutional functions as the natural gAs. As in gA channels, the carbonyl moieties of the TCT, which point toward the T-channel core and surround the transport direction, are solvated by water. The net-dipolar alignment of water molecules along the chiral pore surfaces influences the conduction of protons/ions, envisioned to diffuse along dipolar hydrophilic pathways. Theoretical simulations and experimental assays reveal that the conduction through the T-channel, similar to that in gA, presents proton/water conduction, cation/anion selectivity and large open channel-conductance states. T-channels--associating supramolecular chirality with dipolar water alignment--represent an artificial primitive mimic of gA.
authors: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UMII- UMR-CNRS5635, Place Eugène Bataillon CC047, 34095 Montpellier, France.
authors: Mihail
authors: M
authors: Barboiu
authors: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UMII- UMR-CNRS5635, Place Eugène Bataillon CC047, 34095 Montpellier, France.
authors: Yann
authors: Y
authors: Le Duc
authors: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UMII- UMR-CNRS5635, Place Eugène Bataillon CC047, 34095 Montpellier, France.
authors: Arnaud
authors: A
authors: Gilles
authors: Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier (ICGM), UMR 5253 CNRS/ENSCM/UMII, 8 rue de l'Ecole Normale, F-34296 Montpellier, France.
authors: Pierre-André
authors: PA
authors: Cazade
authors: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UMII- UMR-CNRS5635, Place Eugène Bataillon CC047, 34095 Montpellier, France.
authors: Mathieu
authors: M
authors: Michau
authors: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UMII- UMR-CNRS5635, Place Eugène Bataillon CC047, 34095 Montpellier, France.
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Marie Legrand
authors: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UMII- UMR-CNRS5635, Place Eugène Bataillon CC047, 34095 Montpellier, France.
authors: Arie
authors: A
authors: van der Lee
authors: Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier (ICGM), UMR 5253 CNRS/ENSCM/UMII, 8 rue de l'Ecole Normale, F-34296 Montpellier, France.
authors: Benoît
authors: B
authors: Coasne
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W3V6.
authors: Paria
authors: P
authors: Parvizi
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W3V6.
authors: Joshua
authors: J
authors: Post
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W3V6.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Fyles
mesh_terms: D006096:Gramicidin; D007477:Ions / Q000378:metabolism*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D014230:Triazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D014230:Triazoles; D014867:Water; D006096:Gramicidin