From two to three dimensions on demand: control of secondary structure for materials applications

在自然界中，氨基酸链优雅而容易地折叠成功能性酶。这个例子说明了组织控制的力量。在合成有机系统中获得同样水平的控制是一个难以置信的挑战。然而，生物和纳米科学对这种技术的巨大兴趣促使化学家们开发出在三维空间中形成明确形状的策略。一种特别有趣的方法是设计一种分子，这种分子对光等刺激物有特定的反应。例如，当受到外部信号的作用时，分子会从无序的线性状态折叠成螺旋状。

In nature, strings of amino acids elegantly and readily fold into functional enzymes. This example illustrates the power of organizational control. Obtaining the same level of control over synthetic organic systems is an incredible challenge. However, great interest within the bio- and nanosciences for such technology drives chemists to develop strategies for the formation of well-defined shapes in three dimensions. One particularly interesting approach involves the design of a molecule that will have a particular response to the addition of a stimulus such as light. For example, molecules have been built that will fold from an unordered linear state into a helix when acted upon by an external signal.