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Updated: Aug 30, 2025

Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection
Published on: February 17, 2017
Flexible Single-Chain-Heteropolymer-Derived Transmembrane Ion Channels with High K+ Selectivity and Tunable pH-Gated
Tengfei Yan1, Shengda Liu1, Cong Li1
1College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Material Technology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
Abstract:
A series of single-chain random heteropolymer (RHP)-derived artificial ion channels with both high K+ selectivity and controllable pH-gated behaviors were fabricated by a facile "one-pot" polymerization method. The benzo-18-crown-6 moieties appended on lateral chains of RHPs can form ion-permeable nanopores and transport K+ over Na+ through the lipid bilayers. The ion permeation selectivity was significantly enhanced by incorporating a cholesterol group to serve as a membrane anchor. Interestingly, similar to natural gated protein channels, on-off switchable characteristics were also realized by integrating an additional acid-sensitive alkylamine group into the RHP-derived channel. The unique design strategies have endowed the RHP-derived ion channels with facile synthetic procedures, desirable membrane compatibility, high K+ selectivity, and tunable pH-gated properties. This work provides an entry point for future design of novel functional nanochannels.
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