title: Stereospecific morphogenesis of aspartic acid helical crystals through molecular recognition.
abstract: Helical morphologies were generated from aspartic acid (Asp) crystals in agar gel matrix. The morphogenesis stereospecifically proceeded in the helical crystal growth: D- and L-Asp provided left- and right-handed structures, respectively. The backbone of the helical morphology was twisted twins of tilted unit crystals, as was the case with inorganic helical crystals. The molecular recognition between the Asp crystals and agar matrix molecules resulted in the stereospecific morphogenesis. The chirality in Asp and agar molecules, the enantiomorph of unit crystals, and the resultant macroscopic helix were exquisitely associated with each other.
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan.
authors: Yuya
authors: Y
authors: Oaki
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Imai
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D005782:Gels; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D000362:Agar