生体分子に学ぶ分子機械の設計と機能開拓

抄録

In biological systems, there are several “nano machines” whose mechanical motions are triggered by ATP (adenosine-5'-triphosphate). We expected that integration of such unique biological mechanisms into materials chemistry could open a door to conceptually new bioresponsive nano devices. Chaperonin proteins are one of those, whose biological function is to assist folding of newly formed or denatured proteins by taking them inside their cylindrical nanoscopic cavity. We have developed a semibiological molecular machine by chemical modification of chaperonin GroEL, which was capable of controlling the releasing process of denatured proteins in response to ATP and light as input stimuli. Furthermore, chemical modification of engineered GroEL with spiropyran allowed for formation of 1D tubular assemblies of GroELs, which are capable of encapsulating denatured proteins into their nanoscopic cavities. On the other hand, inspired by biological molecular machines such as chaperonin, we have also developed completely synthetic molecular machines, consisting of ferrocene and photoresponsive units. These molecular machines are programmed to operate via interlocking of multiple different movable units with restricted motions via both covalent and non-covalent bonds.