The transport of anions across cell membranes has become an important goal for supramolecular chemistry [1][2][3][4] . It is well-known that cation carriers (cationophores) can serve as antibiotics and toxins 5,6 , and it seems likely that anion carriers might also show useful biological activity. However, suitable anionophores have only recently become available 7-10 , and the nature of their biological effects is still in question. A particular hope is that anionophores might be used to replace the activity of endogenous anion channels which are missing or defective 11,2 . Such deficiencies underlie a number of medical conditions including Best disease, Startle disease, Bartter's syndrome and, most notably, the widespread lifeshortening genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF) 12,13 .If anionophores are to be used to treat these "channelopathies", it must be shown that they can be delivered to cells in sufficient quantities to produce substantial effects, of the same order of magnitude as endogenous anion channels, and that these quantities are not toxic to the cells. However, while a wide variety of anionophores have been studied in synthetic membranes (principally large unilamellar vesicles, or LUVs), the range of systems subjected to biological investigations is still quite limited. Moreover, from the point of view of CF treatment, the results thus far have been mixed. On the positive side, a few systems have been tested in whole cells, epithelia or (in one case) genetically modified mice 14 , using electrophysiological methods such as patch-clamp and Ussing chamber, and shown to induce anion conduction without obvious toxic effects. These anionophores include synthetic 3 peptides conceptually related to natural anion channels 11,[15][16][17] , as well as the steroid-based system 1 from the authors' laboratory 18 , and other small organic molecules 14,19,20 .Less encouragingly, a number of molecules showing anion transport in LUVs have tested positive for anti-cancer cytotoxicity (potentially valuable, but incompatible with CF treatment) 8,[21][22][23][24][25] . Many of these systems, including the well-studied prodigiosin 2 26 , transport protons as well as anions 8,[21][22][23] . Intracellular acidification can lead to apoptosis 26 , so in these cases proton transport could underlie toxicity. On the other hand, a recent study on calixpyrroles 3 suggested that anion transport as such could be cytotoxic 25 . As the transport activity of 3 was only weak, this raises the concern that powerful anionophores might be highly toxic and thus unsuitable for CF treatment. Thus far the only biological testing of these "1,5-diaxial" systems has been the early study on 1, referred to above 18 . The assay involved the application of 1 to the apical membrane of oriented Madin Darby canine kidney cell (MDCK) epithelia, mounted in an Ussing chamber, and measurement of the resulting electrical current caused by Cl − transport. The methodology is well-established, but not so convenient for screening large numbers of compounds.Mor...

Transmembrane anion carriers (anionophores) have potential in biological research and medicine, provided high activities can be obtained. There is particular interest in treating cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic illness caused by deficient anion transport. Previous work has found that anionophore designs featuring axial ureas on steroid and trans-decalin scaffolds can be especially effective. Here we show that replacement of ureas by thioureas yields substantial further enhancements. Six new bis-thioureas have been prepared and tested for Cl(-)/NO3(-) exchange in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). The bis-thioureas are typically >10 times more effective than the corresponding ureas and are sufficiently active that transport by molecules acting singly in LUVs is readily detected. The highest activity is shown by decalin 9, which features N-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thioureido and octyl ester substituents. A single molecule of transporter 9 in a 200 nm vesicle promotes Cl(-)/NO3(-) exchange with a half-life of 45 s and an absolute rate of 850 chloride anions per second. Weight-for-weight, this carrier is only slightly less effective than CFTR, the natural anion channel associated with CF.

Decalins bearing two axial -NHCONHAr substituents and an ester-linked alkyl side chain have been synthesized and studied as anion receptors and transporters. The design relates to steroid-based "cholapods" but is more compact and less intrinsically lipophilic. Transport rates depend on both NHAr and the alkyl side chain. High activities can be achieved; with optimal substitution, chloride-nitrate exchange across vesicle membranes is measurable at transporter/lipid ratios as low as 1:250,000.