Synthetic Channel Specifically Inserts into the Lipid Bilayer of Gram-Positive Bacteria but not that of Mammalian Erythrocytes.
A series of tubular molecules with different lengths have been synthesized by attaching Trp-incorporated peptides to the pillar[5]arene backbone. The tubular molecules are able to insert into the lipid bilayer to form unimolecular transmembrane channels. One of the channels has been revealed to specifically insert into the bilayer of the Gram-positive bacteria. In contrast, this channel cannot insert into the membranes of the mammalian rat erythrocytes even at the high concentration of 100 μm. It was further demonstrated that, as a result of this high membrane selectivity, the channel exhibits efficient antimicrobial activity for the Gram-positive bacteria and very low hemolytic toxicity for mammalian erythrocytes.
Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Min
M
Zhang
Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Ping-Ping
PP
Zhu
Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Pengyang
P
Xin
Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Wen
W
Si
Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Zhan-Ting
ZT
Li
Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Jun-Li
JL
Hou
D000818:Animals; D047250:Calixarenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
D047250:Calixarenes; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010455:Peptides; C570642:pillar(5)arene; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
antimicrobial activity; hemolytic toxicity; lipid bilayers; pillar[5]arenes; synthetic channels