Anion recognition and transport by a short peptide of alpha-aminoxy acid

ORGN 839

Xiang Li, Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China and Dan Yang, yangdan@hku.hk, Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
The exploration of foldamers is an intensive research area. In recent years, peptidomimetic foldamers, e.g. beta-peptides, have attracted a lot of attention because of their unique conformations and interesting functions. Here we report our efforts on development of alpha-aminoxy peptides, which represent a new class of foldamers, for their potential applications in anion recognition and transport. We have explored a short peptide derived from alpha-aminoxy acids, which exhibited impressively strong affinity and particularly high selectivity for chloride ions in nonpolar solvents. The assessment of ion transport activity with a pH-stat assay in synthetic EYPC liposomes demonstrated that the short peptide could mediate anion transport efficiently across lipid bilayers of liposomes. We have also investigated chloride transport in MDCK cell line with a chloride-sensitive fluorescent indicator SPQ, and found that the short peptide indeed facilitated chloride transport in living cells.
 

Molecular Recognition and Self-Assembly
1:00 PM-5:00 PM, Thursday, March 29, 2007 McCormick Place Lakeside -- Room E351, Level 3, Oral

Division of Organic Chemistry

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007