Chloride ion complexation and transport by amphiphilic peptides

INOR 516

George W. Gokel, gokelg@umsl.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri – Saint Louis, One University Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63121
The ClC family of proteins transport chloride ion through cellular membranes. Based on our limited understanding of these proteins, we have designed, prepared, characterized, and assayed a family of amphiphilic peptides. For the most part, the N-terminal end was constructed from dioctadecylamine. The amine was connected to either diglycolic or thiadiglycolic acid, which was attached to the N-terminus of a peptide. Most of the peptides studied had the general formula (Aaa)3-Pro-(Aaa)3 although longer, shorter, and non-proline containing derivatives were prepared. A variety of alcohols comprised the C-terminal ester. These peptides typically complex chloride ion and facilitate chloride transport through phospholipid bilayers. The effects on anion transport of structural variations in the various modules has been studied and will be described.