George W. Gokel Laboratory
Hydraphile Cation Channels
Hydraphile channels use crown ethers as amphiphilic head groups and as entry portals to create a pore within a bilayer membrane. Cations transport through the channels, which exhibit classic open-close behavior typical of protein channels.
Amphiphilic Peptides
A family of synthetic anion transporters (SATs) has been prepared. These extensively substituted peptide derivatives mediate the transport of chloride and other anions through phospholipid bilayers.
Cation-pi Interaction
Synthetic receptors have been used to define the interactions between alkali metal cations and benzene, phenol, and indole, the common amino acid arenes.
Research
