title: Amplification of acetylcholine-binding catenanes from dynamic combinatorial libraries.
abstract: Directed chemical synthesis can produce a vast range of molecular structures, but the intended product must be known at the outset. In contrast, evolution in nature can lead to efficient receptors and catalysts whose structures defy prediction. To access such unpredictable structures, we prepared dynamic combinatorial libraries in which reversibly binding building blocks assemble around a receptor target. We selected for an acetylcholine receptor by adding the neurotransmitter to solutions of dipeptide hydrazones [proline-phenylalanine or proline-(cyclohexyl)alanine], which reversibly combine through hydrazone linkages. At thermodynamic equilibrium, the dominant receptor structure was an elaborate [2]-catenane consisting of two interlocked macrocyclic trimers. This complex receptor with a 100 nM affinity for acetylcholine could be isolated on a preparative scale in 67% yield.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
authors.forename: Ruby T S
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belenguer
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: Thibaut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jarrosson
authors.forename: Sijbren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Jeremy K M
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000737:chemistry*; D043863:Catenanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D019281:Dimerization; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D043863:Catenanes; D004151:Dipeptides; D006835:Hydrazones; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D000109:Acetylcholine