title: Highly Selective Artificial Cholesteryl Crown Ether K(+)-Channels.
abstract: The bacterial KcsA channel conducts K(+) cations at high rates while excluding Na(+) cations. Herein, we report an artificial ion-channel formed by H-bonded stacks of crown-ethers, where K(+) cation conduction is highly preferred to Na(+) cations. The macrocycles aligned along the central pore surround the K(+) cations in a similar manner to the water around the hydrated cation, compensating for the energetic cost of their dehydration. In contrast, the Na(+) cation does not fit the macrocyclic binding sites, so its dehydration is not completely compensated. The present highly K(+)-selective macrocyclic channel may be regarded as a biomimetic of the KcsA channel.
authors.affiliation: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UM-CNRS UMR-5635, Place E. Bataillon, CC 047, F-34095, Montpellier Cedex 5 (France).
authors.forename: Zhanhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UM-CNRS UMR-5635, Place E. Bataillon, CC 047, F-34095, Montpellier Cedex 5 (France). mihail-dumitru.barboiu@univ-montp2.fr.
authors.forename: Mihail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barboiu
authors.affiliation: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UM-CNRS UMR-5635, Place E. Bataillon, CC 047, F-34095, Montpellier Cedex 5 (France).
authors.forename: Yves-Marie
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.affiliation: Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UM-CNRS UMR-5635, Place E. Bataillon, CC 047, F-34095, Montpellier Cedex 5 (France).
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.affiliation: Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Romanian Academy, 41A Aleea Gr. Ghica Voda, Iasi (Romania).
authors.forename: Alexandru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotaru
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry*; D043844:Crown Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D043844:Crown Ethers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: biomimetics; crown ethers; hydrogen bonding; ion channels; self-assembly