Coordination and transport of alkali metal cations through phospholipid bilayer membranes by hydraphile channels.

Hydraphiles are synthetic ionophores that were designed to mimic some properties of protein channels that conduct such cations as sodium. They use macrocyclic (crown) polyethers as amphiphilic headgroups and as entry and exit portals. Their overall length is controlled by covalent links between the two headgroups (distal macrocycles) and the "central relay" unit, typically also an azacrown. The hydraphiles insert in the bilayer membranes of synthetic phospholipid vesicles or vital cells and mediate the transport of cations. The hydraphiles were intended to be models but they are functional channels. Because they are symmetric, they are non-rectifying but they show open-close behavior characteristic of natural channels. Because they are non-rectifying, when they insert into a microbial membrane, they lead to a rapid change in osmotic balance that proves fatal to bacteria.