Shapeshifting Molecules

变形分子

• 批准号: EP/V040049/1
• 负责人: Paul McGonigal
• 金额: $ 152.17万
• 依托单位: Durham University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FV040049%2F1
• 关键词: Shapeshifting; Molecules

Different sequences of atoms give molecules with distinct shapes. This shape is key to a molecule's properties, e.g., its biological effect when binding proteins. Conventionally, the atomic sequence of a molecule is fixed. This proposal, however, investigates molecules that break free from this dogma. 'Shapeshifting' molecules adapt their atomic sequences to match their surroundings.During this Early Career Fellowship, the project team and I will establish methods to control shapeshifting molecules. We will pioneer their applications in catalysis, drugs, and plastics. We expect to discover rare properties, such as plastics made from molecular networks that spontaneously tangle and untangle, making them uniquely strong and flexible. We will also answer open questions about how shapeshifting molecules adapt when they interact with other molecules, quantifying changes in their structures. This knowledge will allow us to make shapeshifting molecules that mould themselves to match complex biological targets implicated in disease.By the end of the grant, we will have shown how shapeshifting molecules differ from conventional materials. We will have also demonstrated the first of their many possible applications in biology and soft materials. These fundamental, chemical advances establish a new research area that will have broad impacts in biochemistry, materials physics and engineering.

不同的原子序列具有不同形状的分子。这种形状是分子特性的关键，例如结合蛋白时其生物学作用。通常，分子的原子序列是固定的。但是，该提议调查了摆脱该教条的分子。 “变形”分子会适应其原子序列以与周围环境相匹配。在这个早期的职业奖学金中，项目团队和我将建立控制变形分子的方法。我们将开创他们在催化，药物和塑料中的应用。我们期望发现稀有特性，例如由自发缠结和解开的分子网络制成的塑料，使其具有独特的强度和柔韧性。我们还将回答有关变形分子与其他分子相互作用时如何适应其结构变化时如何适应的问题。这些知识将使我们能够制作成形分子，以塑造自己的成型分子，以匹配与疾病有关的复杂生物学靶标的。赠款的结尾，我们将展示变形分子与常规材料有何不同。我们还将证明他们在生物学和软材料中的许多可能应用中的第一个。这些基本的化学进步建立了一个新的研究领域，该领域将对生物化学，材料物理和工程产生广泛的影响。