Editor's Summary

23 March 2006

Let's twist

A number of 'molecular machines' have been developed to do the same jobs as full-size tweezers, rotors and brakes. This week an important step towards more complex molecular machinery is reported, in the shape of light-powered 'molecular pedals' that can manipulate a second molecule. The set of pedals is designed so that a light-induced conformational change at one end of the molecule rotates its centre and induces a scissor-like motion of the pedals at the other end. This programmed, fully reversible rotation and pedal action is converted into a twisting motion of a rotary 'guest' molecule that has been trapped between the pedals through non-covalent interactions. An extension of this concept might allow the remote control of molecular events in larger interlocked molecular systems.

Letter: Mechanical twisting of a guest by a photoresponsive host

Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara and Takuzo Aida

doi:10.1038/nature04635

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