Supramolecular Regulation of Catalytic Activity in Molecularly Responsive Catalysts

Some enzymes switch between an open form and a closedform. Wereport a molecularly tuned catalyst that accommodates a substrateand a signal molecule simultaneously. Binding of the signal moleculehelps direct the reactive group of the substrate to the catalyticgroup and enhances the catalytic activity. Subtle structural changesin either the substrate or the signal molecule are readily detected.The switching mechanism also allows the catalytic reaction to be turnedon and off reversibly by specific molecular signals.

Automated summary

We report a molecularly tuned catalyst that can accommodate both a substrate and a signal molecule. The binding of the signal molecule helps to direct the reactive group of the substrate to the catalytic group and enhances the catalytic activity. Subtle structural changes in either the substrate or the signal molecule can be readily detected. The switching mechanism also allows the catalytic reaction to be reversibly turned on and off by specific molecular signals.