What is it about?
This study introduces a small, self‑assembling molecule that forms tiny channels in membrane‑like films and can be toggled with light to regulate how fast protons and water pass through. The molecule flips between two shapes, called E and Z, when illuminated at different wavelengths. In the Z shape, transport is faster; in the E shape, it slows down. Experiments confirm highly selective proton conduction—moving protons while rejecting common salts—and show that water flow tracks with this light switch. Computer simulations support a mechanism where imidazole groups and hydrogen‑bonded water clusters relay protons, much like “water wires.”
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Photo by Michal Czyz on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Selective, controllable proton movement underpins how cells make energy. Being able to externally tune proton and water transport with light offers precise, non‑invasive control that could help replace or modulate faulty biological channels, inform drug strategies (including potential cancer therapies), and enable smart membranes in biotechnology. This work demonstrates a robust, reversible photo‑gating concept, bridging synthetic chemistry, biophysics, and membrane engineering.
Perspectives
As authors, we were struck by how a simple light cue reconfigures our acylhydrazone–imidazole assemblies to open or tighten proton and water pathways. The Z form behaves like a dynamic relay, boosting flux while still rejecting salts; the E form stabilizes packing and tempers transport. Seeing patch‑clamp selectivity align with stopped‑flow water data and MD snapshots of transient water wires gives us confidence that photo‑tuned supramolecular channels can become practical tools for controlling bio‑relevant gradients.
Dr Marc Baaden
CNRS
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Dynamic Regulation of Proton and Water Transport through an Acylhydrazone-Based Photoresponsive Channel, Journal of the American Chemical Society, September 2025, American Chemical Society (ACS),
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c05942.
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