title: A general and versatile molecular design for host molecules working in water: a duplex-based potassium sensor consisting of three functional regions.
abstract: A general and versatile molecular design for host molecules was proposed based on the structural motif of antibodies. A water-soluble potassium sensor was developed by this molecular design, which consists of three functional regions, benzo-15-crown-5 ether, DNA, and pyrene as guest-binding, dimerising, and signaling sites, respectively. The molecular sensor emitted the monomer fluorescence of the pyrene fluorophore predominantly when existing as a random structure, while it formed a duplex upon recognition of K+ to bring about monomer-excimer emission switching.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan. fujimoto@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inouye
mesh_terms: D043844:Crown Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D017736:Ion-Selective Electrodes; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D043844:Crown Ethers; D011721:Pyrenes; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA; D011188:Potassium