Photomodulated Blocking of Gramicidin Ion Channels

摘要

Optical control of biomolecules can permit novel approaches for probing the chemistry ofliving systems.Reversible control of ion transport systems, in particular, offers the possibility of investigating the importance of timing and rhythms in excitable cell systems. Several groups have designed ion transport systems that incorporate photpehromic groups. Pho-toisomerization has been designed to affect ion binding, positioning of channel-forming molecules in the membrane, creation of polar sites within the membrane, or gramicidin channel dimerization. We wish to report a novel approach in which photoisomerization can affect blocking of the gramicidin ion channel by a molecular "gate".