Molecular Recognition in Biology: Models

Katchalski-Katzir, Ephraim, Molecular recognition in Biology Models for Analysis of Protein—Ligand Interactions, 1, 25. 

Molecular Recognition in Biology Models for Analysis of Protein-Ligand Interactions Lancet, Horovitz and Katchalski-Katzir) 1 25... 

Molecular Organization on Giant Unilamellar Vesicles Gangl, Stark, Mayrhofer, Runzler, Thumer, Lukas, Mayer and Kohler) 6 379 Molecular Recognition in Biology Models for Analysis of Protein-Ligand Interactions Lancet, Horovitz and Katchalski-Katzir) 1 25... 

Lancet D, Sadovsky E and Seidemann E 1993 Probability model for molecular recognition in biological receptor repertoires significance to the olfactory system Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 90 3715-19... 

The first examples of the so-called supramolecular catalysis are based on bioinspired molecular recognition, which is an essential attribute of biochemical systems. Structures such as receptors, antibodies, and enzymes can all recognize a feature that is important for their specific functions, often in the presence of species of quite similar structure. The ability to discriminate depends exclusively on the structural properties of these biological macromolecules. Recent progress in bioor-ganic chemistry has shown that many of these functions can be incorporated into smaller, synthetically more accessible structures as model systems [27]. 

The nonionic template strategy based on hydrogen bonds and to a certain extent on n-n interactions has made catenanes and rotaxanes readily available. The molecular recognition and self-organization process which is responsible for the formation of intertwined and interlocked structures is founded upon the same weak interactions that govern many biological processes. Amide-based catenanes and rotaxanes can thus serve as valuable models for complex molecular recognition patterns in nature. 

Abstract Carbohydrates have been investigated and developed as delivery vehicles for shuttling nucleic acids into cells. In this review, we present the state of the art in carbohydrate-based polymeric vehicles for nucleic acid delivery, with the focus on the recent successes in preclinical models, both in vitro and in vivo. Polymeric scaffolds based on the natural polysaccharides chitosan, hyaluronan, pullulan, dextran, and schizophyllan each have unique properties and potential for modification, and these results are discussed with the focus on facile synthetic routes and favorable performance in biological systems. Many of these carbohydrates have been used to develop alternative types of biomaterials for nucleic acid delivery to typical polyplexes, and these novel materials are discussed. Also presented are polymeric vehicles that incorporate copolymerized carbohydrates into polymer backbones based on polyethylenimine and polylysine and their effect on transfection and biocompatibility. Unique scaffolds, such as clusters and polymers based on cyclodextrin (CD), are also discussed, with the focus on recent successes in vivo and in the clinic. These results are presented with the emphasis on the role of carbohydrate and charge on transfection. Use of carbohydrates as molecular recognition ligands for cell-type specific dehvery is also briefly... 

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