Abstract
Biomimetic monodisperse oligomers of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (Mn 1670, Mw/Mn 1.2) (referred to as OHB19/23) were complexed with inorganic polyphosphates (polyPs) to create large conductance, voltage- activated ion channels in planar lipid bilayers of 1,2-dierucoylphosphatidylcholine. The OHB19/23/polyP channels displayed higher conductance (275 pS vs 100 pS) and significantly poorer selectivity for Ca2+ over Na + than channels formed by polyPs with polymers of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHBs) of 120-140 monomer units (>90:1 vs 4:1), suggesting that the oligomer channels are less well organized. In the absence of polyPs, OHB19/23 formed channels only at 100-fold higher concentrations, and the channels were essentially nonselective open pores with fluctuating conductance that closed only rarely. The results suggest that polyPs serve as voltage sensors and have a major role in cation selection, whereas OHBs serve principally as solvating agents. It may be concluded that monodisperse biomimetic OHBs and polyPs can be used effectively to form voltage-activated artificial ion channels of limited cation selectivity.
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