Molecular recognition groups

Hi. Use of dopant anions containing molecular recognition groups... 

JEFFREY LEAVER Molecular Recognition Group, Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, Scotland... 

The present review intends to be illustrative rather than comprehensive, and focuses on the results of this study leading to the hypothesis 9 — the three-dimensional shape similarity between interacting groups in reacting molecules is responsible for more specific and precise molecular recognition than would otherwise be achieved — and on the explanation of biological recognition on this basis. 

The similarity recognition hypothesis presented here would be applicable to the specific and precise discrimination in chemical and biological systems. It is hoped that this review will serve to stimulate further work on the physicochemical origin of the shape-similarity effect on specific molecular recognition, for example, work on weak interactions specific for the three-dimensional shape of interacting groups. 

Proteins derive their powerful and diverse capacity for molecular recognition and catalysis from their ability to fold into defined secondary and tertiary structures and display specific functional groups at precise locations in space. Functional protein domains are typically 50-200 residues in length and utilize a specific sequence of side chains to encode folded structures that have a compact hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic surface. Mimicry of protein structure and function by non-natural ohgomers such as peptoids wiU not only require the synthesis of >50mers with a variety of side chains, but wiU also require these non-natural sequences to adopt, in water, tertiary structures that are rich in secondary structure. 

Figure 23. Schematic drawing that shows adamantane as a molecular probe with three fluorophore groups (FI) and a targeting part (TG) for specific molecular recognition. Taken from Ref. [112] with permission.

Additional clathrate inclusions of this particular type of functional group free hosts have been studied by Toda and coworkers (see Chapter 3 in Vol. 140 of this series, Molecular Inclusion and Molecular Recognition — Clathrates I ). 

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