ReadingMachine · Molecular machine for information reading and catalysis

Molecular machine for information reading and catalysis

ReadingMachine project proposed the development of chemically fuelled linear molecular machines capable of active transport of cargo, the read-out information and other sophisticated tasks. The project intended to build a [2]rotaxane-based molecular machine in which the thread is composed of multiple compartments for the storage of different chiral information. The machine should be able to pump a macrocycle onto the track and directionally transport it from one end to the other by addition of pulses of a chemical fuel. During the transportation process, the macrocycle recognise the information at each station it docks at, performing a non-destructive ‘read-out’ task that can be reported by a circular dichroism (CD) output. By processively transporting the macrocycle, the sequential information of the track should be transcribed into a series of CD signals. The macrocycle reading process ultimately enable the molecular machine to be a ‘smart’ catalyst for the selective synthesis of specific products according to the signal it reads – in a way that is reminiscent of RNA polymerase reading the information from DNA and transcribing it to encode proteins in life. Three objectives were initially established: 1. Developing a linear molecular machine that can load, transport and release a substrate in a unidirectional manner 2. Developing a ‘Reading Machine’ 3. Investigating the catalysis behaviour of the ‘ReadingMachine’ Linear molecular machines consisting of several chirality information stored on the track have been synthesized. The operation by using pulsed of chemical fuel can pump the molecular reader (macrocycle) onto the track, unidirectionally transported it and eventually release it. Along the transportation process, the chirality information can be read out by the macrocycle through a series of CD output. Progress towards investigating the catalysis behaviour of the ‘ReadingMachine’ was described. Several macrocycles that consist of enantioselective catalytic unit have been synthesised and tested for the catalysis. Time allocation required to carry out the synthetic work of this project was higher than initially expected. The complex behaviour of these systems forced the iterative redesign and synthesis of model compounds, gradually introducing alterations and testing its efficiency in order to improve operation. The COVID-19 pandemic also affected the development of the project due to the total shutdown of activities in the University of Manchester from March to July 2020 and the restriction of activities from August 2020 to the end of the action. This unforeseen circumstance occurred in a critical stage of the project, heavily affecting general development and progress.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз