Molecular recognition, supramolecular

According to these basic concepts, molecular recognition implies complementary lock-and-key type fit between molecules. The lock is the molecular receptor and the key is the substrate that is recognised and selected to give a defined receptor—substrate complex, a coordination compound or a supermolecule. Hence molecular recognition is one of the three main pillars, fixation, coordination, and recognition, that lay foundation of what is now called supramolecular chemistry (8—11). 

E. Weber, ed., Supramolecular Chemisty 1—Directed Synthesis and Molecular Recognition, Top, Curr. Chem., Vol. 165, Springer, Bedin-Heidelberg, 1993. 

See for example (a) Lehn JM (1988) Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 27 89 (b) Atwood JL (ed) 1990 Inclusion phenomena and molecular recognition. Plenum, New York (c) Vdgtle F (1991) Supramolecular Chemistry, Wiley, Chichester (d) Schneider HJ, Diirr H (1991) Frontiers in supramolecular chemistry and photochemistry, VCH, New York (e) Lehn JM (1995) Supramolecular chemistry, VCH, New York (f) Lehn JM (ed) (1996) Comprehensive supramolecular chemistry, Pergamon, New York (g) Lent CS (2000) Science 288 1597... 

Finally, to produce the structural and functional devices of the cell, polypeptides are synthesized by ribosomal translation of the mRNA. The supramolecular complex of the E. coli ribosome consists of 52 protein and three RNA molecules. The power of programmed molecular recognition is impressively demonstrated by the fact that aU of the individual 55 ribosomal building blocks spontaneously assemble to form the functional supramolecular complex by means of noncovalent interactions. The ribosome contains two subunits, the 308 subunit, with a molecular weight of about 930 kDa, and the 1590-kDa 50S subunit, forming particles of about 25-nm diameter. The resolution of the well-defined three-dimensional structure of the ribosome and the exact topographical constitution of its components are still under active investigation. Nevertheless, the localization of the multiple enzymatic domains, e.g., the peptidyl transferase, are well known, and thus the fundamental functions of the entire supramolecular machine is understood [24]. 

Lehn, J. M. (1990) Perspective in supramolecular chemistry - from molecular recognition towards molecular information-processing and selforganization. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 29, 1304-1319. 

Reports of molecular recognition and self-assembly aspects of supramolecular chemistry associated with dendrimers and related structures will be the chief focus of this review. 

Thus, the concept and manifestation of molecular recognition mediated supramolecular self-assembly of small chemical units, be it an ABn type building block or a dendrimer molecule, have proved to be vital factors in bridging the gap between small molecules and novel new-age materials. 

Supramolecular chemistry takes into consideration the weak and reversible non-covalent interactions between molecules, which include H-bond-ing, metal coordination, hydrophobic forces, van der Waals forces, n—n interactions, and covers different research fields, for example, molecular recognition, host-guest chemistry, mechanically interlocked and nanochemistry. 

Voegtle F., (ed.) Comprehensive Supramolecular Chemistry, Volume 2 Molecular Recognition Receptors for Molecular Guests, Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK, 1996. 

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