title: Insight into the esterase like activity demonstrated by an imidazole appended self-assembling hydrogelator.
abstract: A low molecular weight hydrogelator with a covalently appended imidazole moiety is reported. Capable of percolating water in the pH range of 6 to 8, it proves to be an efficient catalyst upon self-assembly, showing Michaelis-Menten type kinetics. Activities at different pH values correlated with dramatic structural changes were observed. It can hydrolyse p-nitrophenyl acetate (pNPA) as well as inactivated esters, and L and D-phenylalanine methyl esters. The enhanced activity can be related to the conglomeration of catalytic groups upon aggregation resulting in their close proximity and the formation of hydrophobic pockets.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain. miravet@uji.es escuder@uji.es.
authors.forename: Nishant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Ulijn
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Miravet
authors.forename: Beatriu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Escuder
mesh_terms: D004950:Esterases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D007093:Imidazoles; C029899:imidazole; D004950:Esterases