Scientists in The Netherlands and Germany have shown that cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) induces selective heterodimerisation between two different proteins.
Supramolecular induced protein dimerisation
Luc Brunsveld and his team functionalised the two proteins with methylviologen (electron deficient) and napthalene (electron rich) guest molecules, which formed a charge transfer complex inside the CB[8] cavity. Interestingly, the resulting dimerisation can be visually observed and has established that there is distinct interplay between the supramolecular components within the proteins.
Fancy reading more? Then download the ChemComm communication,which will be free to access until the 24th June 2011.
