Dynamic Covalent Transport of Amino Acids across Lipid Bilayers

We report a dynamic covalent approach to transmembrane transport of amino acids by the formation of a three-component assembly. A mixture of a squaramide and a lipophilic and electrophilic aldehyde is shown to synergistically transport highly polar glycine (Gly) across vesicle membranes. The transport was investigated by a C-13 NMR assay, an osmotic response assay, a newly developed fluorescence assay suitable for measuring Gly influx, and other fluorescence assays for leakage and pH change. The transport is proposed to occur via a hydrogen-bonded anionic glycine hemiaminal/imine, accompanied by transport of OH- in the opposite direction. Several control experiments support the role of hemiaminal/imine in the observed facilitated Gly transport. Proton NMR studies of a biphasic system show the presence of both the hemiaminal and imine formed between Gly and an aldehyde. Interestingly, the synergistic effect has also been observed for sarcosine, which can form hemiaminals but not imines. The results demonstrate the potential of hemiaminal formation for the facilitated transport of substrates containing primary and secondary amino groups.