Three macrocyclic oligocholates containing a carboxyl group, a guanidinium ion, and a Cbz-protected amine, respectively, were studied as membrane transporters for hydrophilic molecules. To permeate glucose across lipid bilayers, the macrocycles stacked over one another to form a transmembrane nanopore, driven by a strong tendency of the water molecules in the internal cavities of the amphiphilic macrocycles to aggregate in a nonpolar environment. To transport larger guests such as carboxyfluorescein (CF), the macrocycles acted as carriers to shuttle the guest across the membrane. Hydrogen-bonds between the side chains of the macrocycles strongly affected the transport properties. Surprisingly, the carboxyl group turned out to be far more effective at assisting the aggregation of the oligocholate macrocycles in the membrane than the much stronger carboxylate–guanidinium salt bridge, likely due to competition from the phosphate groups of the lipids for the guanidinium.
研究人员研究了三种分别含有羧基、
胍离子和Cbz保护胺的宏观环状低聚
胆酸盐作为亲
水分子膜转运蛋白的情况。为了使
葡萄糖穿过脂质双分子层,宏观环状物相互堆叠形成跨膜纳米孔,这是由于两亲性宏观环状物内部空腔中的
水分子在非极性环境中具有强烈的聚集趋势。为了运输较大的客体,如羧基
荧光素(CF),宏观环状物充当载体,将客体运送到膜的另一侧。宏观环状物侧链之间的氢键对运输特性有强烈影响。令人惊讶的是,羧基在协助低聚
胆酸盐宏观环状物在膜中聚集方面比强得多的
羧酸盐-
胍离子桥更有效,这可能是由于脂质的
磷酸基团与
胍离子竞争的结果。