Based on preliminary reports, an extended series of bolamphiphilic oligoester compounds with structural symmetry were synthesized and then tested using a planar bilayer experiment with the voltage-clamp technique. The main structures of these compounds are identical, consisting of a mono or tri-aromatic core, two octamethylene chains and two benzoyl headgroups which are all connected through ester linkages. The structural variance was provided by the four differently functionalized benzoyl headgroups. The synthetic methods of three to five steps were mainly adapted from the previously reported method.1 The methods successfully produced eight compounds with overall yields of 20 to 30%. The voltage-clamp data suggested voltage-dependent behaviors occur at low concentrations while Ohmic behaviors require at high concentrations. The activity at low potentials showed relatively erratic behavior but the channels frequently switched between opening and closing states. The activity at high potential lasted longer as the channel maintained a longer state of opening. The exponential voltage-dependent behaviors were observed at higher potential while the voltage-independent Ohmic behaviors occur at low potential. These channel behaviors are highly time-dependent as there is no control over the stability and the aggregation level for the compounds forming active channels in the membrane. In some cases the current-voltage responses appear to be asymmetrical between the positive and the negative potentials. Mechanisms consistent with the observations are proposed. / Graduate / 0485 / 0490 / yzong@uvic.ca

Based on preliminary reports, an extended series of bolamphiphilic oligoester compounds with structural symmetry were synthesized and then tested using a planar bilayer experiment with the voltage-clamp technique. The main structures of these compounds are identical, consisting of a mono or tri-aromatic core, two octamethylene chains and two benzoyl headgroups which are all connected through ester linkages. The structural variance was provided by the four differently functionalized benzoyl headgroups. The synthetic methods of three to five steps were mainly adapted from the previously reported method.1 The methods successfully produced eight compounds with overall yields of 20 to 30%. The voltage-clamp data suggested voltage-dependent behaviors occur at low concentrations while Ohmic behaviors require at high concentrations. The activity at low potentials showed relatively erratic behavior but the channels frequently switched between opening and closing states. The activity at high potential lasted longer as the channel maintained a longer state of opening. The exponential voltage-dependent behaviors were observed at higher potential while the voltage-independent Ohmic behaviors occur at low potential. These channel behaviors are highly time-dependent as there is no control over the stability and the aggregation level for the compounds forming active channels in the membrane. In some cases the current-voltage responses appear to be asymmetrical between the positive and the negative potentials. Mechanisms consistent with the observations are proposed. / Graduate / 0485 / 0490 / yzong@uvic.ca