Work

Investigation of a Catenane with a Responsive Noncovalent Network: Mimicking Long-Range Responses in Proteins

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: We report a functional synthetic model for studying the noncovalent networks (NCNs) required for complex protein functions. The model [2]-catenane is self-assembled from dipeptide building blocks and contains an extensive network of hydrogen bonds and aromatic interactions. Perturbations to the catenane cause compensating changes in the NCNs structure and dynamics, resulting in long-distance changes reminiscent of a protein. Key findings include the notion that NCNs require regions of negative cooperativity, or "frustrated" noncovalent interactions, as a source of potential energy for driving the response. We refer to this potential energy as latent free energy and describe a mechanistic and energetic model for responsive systems.

Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b07833

Authors: Mee-Kyung Chung, Peter S. White, Stephen J. Lee, Michel R. Gagné, Marcey L. Waters

Institutions: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States Army Research Office

Language: English

Topic: Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Army Research Office

Award: Investigation of Latent Free Energy in Noncovalent Networks