Chem 2019
In biology, the transport of ions across lipid membranes is crucial and is generally performed by membrane proteins. Deficiencies in transport are at the origin of various diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. In this context, synthetic anion carriers incorporated within the lipid bilayer could play a remedial role. They extract ions from one side of the membrane, move across, and release the ions on the other side.
Vladimír Šindelář Research Group
Significance
The exchange of chloride and bicarbonate across lipid bilayers is an important biological process. Synthetic molecules can act as mobile carriers for these anions, although most show little selectivity. Here we report on three bambus[6]uril macrocycles functionalized with fluorinated benzyl groups, which are ableto exchange Cl- and HCO3-efficiently. Remarkably, rates for Cl-/NO3- exchange are two orders of magnitude lower. The higher rates of Cl-/HCO3- transport can be explained by the ability of the bambusurils to complex Cl- and HCO3- simultaneously, facilitating their exchange at the bilayer interface.
Furthermore, the exceptionally high affinity and selectivity of these systemsfor NO3- appear to contribute to the poor Cl-/NO3- exchange. This worknot only demonstrates the importance of anion binding characteristics onanion transport but also the potential relevance of bambusurils for aniontransport applications considering the high rate observed for Cl-/HCO3- exchange.
Valkenier, H.; Akrawi, O.; Jurcek, P.; Sleziakova, K.; Lizal, T.; Bartik, K. & Sindelar, V.: Fluorinated Bambusurils as Highly Effective and Selective Transmembrane Cl-/HCO3- Antiporters, Chem (2019) 5, 429-444. doi:10.1016/j.chempr.2018.11.008