Martínez‐Crespo L, Vitórica‐Yrezábal IJ, Whitehead GFS, Webb SJ. Chemically Fueled Communication Along a Scaffolded Nanoscale Array of Squaramides.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023;
62:e202307841. [PMID:
37429824 PMCID:
PMC10952809 DOI:
10.1002/anie.202307841]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Relaying conformational change over several nanometers is central to the function of allosterically regulated proteins. Replicating this mechanism artificially would provide important communication tools, but requires nanometer-sized molecules that reversibly switch between defined shapes in response to signaling molecules. In this work, 1.8 nm long rigid rod oligo(phenylene-ethynylene)s are scaffolds for switchable multi-squaramide hydrogen-bond relays. Each relay can adopt either a parallel or an antiparallel orientation relative to the scaffold; the preferred orientation is dictated by a director group at one end. An amine director responded to proton signals, with acid-base cycles producing multiple reversible changes in relay orientation that were reported by a terminal NH, which is 1.8 nm distant. Moreover, a chemical fuel acted as a dissipative signal. As the fuel was consumed, the relay reverted to its original orientation, illustrating how information from out-of-equilibrium molecular signals can be communicated to a distant site.
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