Crossing Over: Nanostructures that Move Electrons and Ions across Cellular Membranes.
Critical biological processes such as energy generation and signal transduction are driven by the flow of electrons and ions across the membranes of living cells. As a result, there is substantial interest in creating nanostructured materials that control transport of these charged species across biomembranes. Recent advances in the synthesis of de novo and protein nanostructures for transmembrane ion and electron transport and the mechanistic understanding underlying this transport are described. This body of work highlights the promise such nanostructures hold for directing transmembrane transport of charged species as well as challenges that must be overcome to realize that potential.
Physical Biosciences Division, Materials Sciences Division and Synthetic Biology Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Rd. Mail Stop 67R5115, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
Caroline M
CM
Ajo-Franklin
Biology and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Mail Stop L-179, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
Aleksandr
A
Noy
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000502:physiology; D004583:Electrons; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000378:metabolism*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*
D007477:Ions
abiotic-biotic interfaces; bioelectrochemical systems; bioelectronics; synthetic biology