Artificial Aquaporin That Restores Wound Healing of Impaired Cells

J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Sep 16;142(37):15638-15643. doi: 10.1021/jacs.0c00601. Epub 2020 Sep 3.

Abstract

Artificial aquaporins are synthetic molecules that mimic the structure and function of natural aquaporins (AQPs) in cell membranes. The development of artificial aquaporins would provide an alternative strategy for treatment of AQP-related diseases. In this report, an artificial aquaporin has been constructed from an amino-terminated tubular molecule, which operates in a unimolecular mechanism. The artificial channel can work in cell membranes with high water permeability and selectivity rivaling those of AQPs. Importantly, the channel can restore wound healing of the cells that contain function-lost AQPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aquaporins / chemistry
  • Aquaporins / pharmacology*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Single Molecule Imaging
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Aquaporins