基于水通道蛋白设计的人工水通道研究进展

Research Progress in Designing Artificial Water Channels Based on Aquaporin

水通道蛋白(AQPs)对水分子具有高选择性和渗透性,是介导水分子转运的膜蛋白。人工水通道一般由各种有机或无机材料(如碳材料、有机化合物以及多肽等)组装而成,旨在模仿天然水通道蛋白的结构和功能。本文介绍了天然、生物启发及合成水通道的种类、结构及其渗透机理,并比较了单分子、超分子及碳纳米材料等人工水通道在近20年间的研究进展。详细地阐述了不同的人工水通道材料特性对结构和功能的影响,并重点剖析了人工水通道的不足以及开发新型人工水通道面临的挑战,最后展望了人工水通道的未来前景。

Aquaporins(AQPs)are membrane proteins that mediate the transport of water molecules with high selectivity and permeability to water molecules.Artificial water channels are generally assembled from various organic or inorganic materials(such as carbon materials,organic compounds,and peptides)and designed to mimic the structure and function of natural aquaporins.This paper describes the types,structures and their permeation mechanisms of natural,bio-inspired and synthetic water channels,and reviews and compares the research progress of artificial water channels such as single molecules,supramolecules and carbon nanomaterials over the last two decades.This paper elaborates on the influence of different artificial water channel material properties on the structure and function,and focuses on the shortcomings of artificial water channels and the challenges of developing new artificial water channels,and finally looks into the future prospects of artificial water channels.