Proton Gradient-Induced Water Transport Mediated by Water Wires Inside Narrow Aquapores of Aquafoldamer Molecules

Hollow tubular aquapores inside aquafoldamers
can be created via
the “sticky” end-mediated formation of 1D chiral helical
stacks involving same-handed helices, and are capable of aligning
H-bonded water molecules in a chain-like fashion. These aquapores
uniquely feature a small cavity of ∼2.8 Å in diameter,
a size identical to that of the water molecule and also comparable
to the narrowest opening in naturally occurring aquaporins measuring
∼3 Å across, and hence allow not only proton transport
but also unique proton-gradient-induced water transport across the
lipid membranes in the presence of proton gradient.