Aggregation of lariat ethers attached to a membrane anchoring unit

The GGGPGGG heptapeptide, when anchored by octadecylamine–diglycolic acid unit forms chloride-selective channels in bilayer. Crown ethers, differently anchored, have been used to form synthetic cation channels. Dialkylamine–diglycolic acid anchored crown ethers failed to form cation-selective channels. This might be due to an inability to insert in the bilayer. Their ability to form stable aggregates, reflective of the latter, was therefore studied.