Anion-selective transport activities of tetrameric sterol-spermine conjugates
Wen-Hua Chen1, Jia Zhou, Yong-Min Wang
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China. whchen@smu.edu.cn
Abstract:
Three tetrameric sterol-spermine conjugates were shown to be capable of mediating chloride transport across 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC)-based liposomal membranes via an anion-exchange mechanism. Of the three conjugates, the one that was derived from deoxycholic acid showed the highest activity. Such anion transporting properties may provide molecular basis for the antibacterial activities of these sterol-spermine tetramers. In other words, they function as antibiotics, most probably via the formation of anion-selective pores or channels.
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