The selective transport of ions across cell membranes, controlled by membrane proteins, is critical for a living organism. DNA-based systems have emerged as promising artificial ion transporters. However, the development of stable and selective artificial ion transporters remains a formidable task. We herein delineate the construction of an artificial ionophore using a telomeric DNA G-quadruplex (h-TELO) and a lipophilic guanosine (MG). MG stabilizes h-TELO by non-covalent interactions and, along with the lipophilic side chain, promotes the insertion of h-TELO within the hydrophobic lipid membrane. Fluorescence assays, electrophysiology measurements and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that MG/h-TELO preferentially transports K+-ions in a stimuli-responsive manner. The preferential K+-ion transport is presumably due to conformational changes of the ionophore in response to different ions. Moreover, the ionophore transports K+-ions across CHO and K-562 cell membranes. This study may serve as a design principle to generate selective DNA-based artificial transporters for therapeutic applications.

中文翻译：

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由G-四链体和脂核苷的非共价组装构成的离子载体通过生物膜运输K +离子。

离子跨膜蛋白的选择性转运受膜蛋白的控制，对于活生物体至关重要。基于DNA的系统已成为有前途的人工离子转运蛋白。然而，开发稳定和选择性的人工离子转运蛋白仍然是一项艰巨的任务。我们在本文中描述了使用端粒DNA G-四链体（h-TELO）和亲脂性鸟苷（MG）的人工离子载体的构建。MG通过非共价相互作用稳定h-TELO，并与亲脂性侧链一起促进h-TELO在疏水脂质膜中的插入。荧光测定，电生理学测量和分子动力学模拟表明，MG / h-TELO优先以刺激响应方式转运K +离子。优先的K +离子传输可能是由于离子载体响应于不同离子而发生的构象变化。此外，离子载体可跨CHO和K-562细胞膜转运K +离子。这项研究可以作为设计原则，以产生用于治疗应用的基于选择性DNA的人工转运蛋白。