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.

不同的原子序列使分子具有不同的形状。这种形状对分子的性质是关键，例如，当结合蛋白质时，它的生物效应。通常，分子的原子序列是固定的。然而，这项提议研究的是脱离这一教条的分子。“变形”分子调整它们的原子序列以适应他们周围的环境。在这个早期的职业联谊会中，项目团队和我将建立控制变形分子的方法。我们将开拓它们在催化、药物和塑料方面的应用。我们希望发现罕见的特性，比如由分子网络自发缠绕和解开制成的塑料，使它们独特地坚固和灵活。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的公开问题，量化它们结构的变化。这一知识将使我们能够制造变形分子，使其自身成型，以匹配与疾病有关的复杂生物目标。到拨款结束时，我们将展示变形分子与传统材料的不同之处。我们还将演示它们在生物学和软材料中的许多可能应用中的第一个。这些基础的化学进展建立了一个新的研究领域，将在生物化学、材料物理和工程方面产生广泛的影响。