Modulating ion channel properties of transmembrane peptide nanotubes through heteromeric supramolecular assemblies

A selective heteromeric supramolecular assembly process is devised to create functional single channels of altered ion conductance, charge selectivity, and rectification. The hollow transmembrane tubular structure produced spontaneously from the self-assembly of cyclic-d,l-α-peptides in lipid bilayers is modified by designer cyclic peptide "cap" subunits that bind site-selectively at the mouth of the channel assembly. Copyright © 2002 American Chemical Society.