Norikazu Nishino

Ion-channels of cyclic template-assembled alamethicins that emulate the pore structure predicted by the barrel-stave model

Single channel measurements of cyclic template-assembled synthetic peptides (TASP) Aln-cyclo2n[AL = Ac-UPUAUAQUVUGLUPVUUG-, U =α-aminoisobutyric acid; cyclo2n=cyclo(-Lys-Abz-)n, Abz =m-aminobenzoic acid] in lipid bilayer membranes reveal that the lowest and the next lowest conductance states of the alamethicin ion-channel are made up of three and four parallel helices, respectively, as predicted by the barrel-stave model.

Energy and Electron Transfer Systems Built in Dendritic Poly(L-lysine)s

We previously reported the incorporation of a large number of free base- and Zn(II)-porphyrins near the surface of dendritic poly(L-lysine)s in a scramble fashion [1] and hemisphere fashion [2]. Each of the dendrimers showed fluorescence energy transfer from Zn(II)-porphyrin to free base-porphyrin with 85 and 43% efficiencies, respectively. In the present study, we combined eight Zn(II)-porphyrins and sixteen free base-porphyrins in double strata fashion on a dendritic poly(L-lysine) ((Zn8/Fbl6)K62 in Figure 1). Namely, Zn(II)-porphyrins are placed near the core, while free base-porphyrins are scattered near the surface.