Voltage-dependent ion channel formation by rigid rod-shaped polyols in planar lipid bilayers

In this Letter, we describe the appearance of large, voltage-dependent currents in BLM induced by rigid rod-shaped polyols that function without charge and permanent dipole moment. The capacity of these symmetrical, nonpeptide models to form either short-living nanopores or small ion channels is shown to depend critically on the length of rigid-rod scaffold as well as the nature of the lateral side chains.