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On the Electrostatics of Cell‐Membrane Recognition: From Natural Antibiotics to Rigid Push‐Pull Rods
Author(s) -
Sakai Naomi,
Matile Stefan
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-3765(20000515)6:10<1731::aid-chem1731>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - membrane , context (archaeology) , electrostatics , constructive , bilayer , rod , natural (archaeology) , chemistry , materials science , nanotechnology , computer science , biology , biochemistry , medicine , paleontology , alternative medicine , process (computing) , pathology , operating system
The question why pore‐forming, α ‐helical natural antibiotics are not toxic is discussed within the general context of the interaction of electrostatically asymmetric “nanorods” with neutral, anionic, and polarized bilayer membranes. We suggest that simplification of the structural complexity of natural systems will be necessary to ultimately define the involved subtle balance between constructive and destructive electrostatic interactions.