Unimolecular Helix-Based Transmembrane Nanochannel with a Smallest Luminal Cavity of 1 Å Expressing High Proton Selectivity and Transport Activity.

Abstract

Natural protein channels have evolved with exquisite structures to transport ions selectively and rapidly. Learning from nature to construct biomimetic artificial channels is always challenging. Herein we present a unimolecular transmembrane proton channel by quinoline-derived helix, which exhibited highly selective and ultrafast proton transport behaviors. This helix-based channel possesses a small luminal cavity of 1 Å in diameter, which could efficiently reject the permeation of cations, anions or water molecules but only permits the translocation of protons owing to the size effect. The proton flow rate exceeded 10⁷ H⁺ s^-1 channel^-1 and reached the same magnitude with gramicidin A. Mechanism investigation revealed that the directionally arrayed NH-chain inside the synthetic channel played a pivotal role during the proton flux. This work not only presented a helix-based channel with the smallest observable nanopore, but also unveiled an unexplored pathway for realizing efficient transport of protons via the consecutive NH-chain.