Artificial receptors for biologically active molecules

Artificial receptors for two key classes of bio- logical molecules, nucleotides and peptides, have been prepared. The nucleotide receptors mimick nucleotide binding enzymes by employing a multi-point binding strategy within a flexible cavity. Complementary hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic groups have been linked within a macrocyclic ring to provide a series of thymine receptors. Binding has been studied by NMR and X-ray crystallographic methods which show that both components interact with the bound substrate. A series of potential peptide receptors based on the antibiotic, vancomycin, have also been prepared and their structural and functional similarities to the natural product have been studied.