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RESEARCH

​Supramolecular Chemistry for Engineering of Biomolecular Interfaces
The surface of biomolecules plays essential roles in molecular recognition, binding, self-assembly, bio-distribution, and so forth.  Engineering of biomolecular surfaces or "interfaces" is an important subject in the fields of chemical biology, biomaterial sciences, and medical sciences, for modulation and/or control of biomolecular functions.  Our objective is to develop new molecular motifs for engineering of biomolecular interfaces based on supramolecular chemistry.
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Guanidinium-based "Molecular Glues"
As a "universal" molecular tool for engineering biomolecular interfaces, we have developed "molecular glues" bearing multiple guanidinium ion pendants.  Molecular glues can tightly adhere to the surface of biomolecules via multivalent salt-bridges with oxyanions.  By means of molecular glues, we are trying to build functional biomolecular assemblies (project 1) and manipulate biomolecular functions (project 2).  We are also developing a new soft materials consisting molecular glues and their derivatives (project 3).

BUILD

Construction of Biomolecular Assembly
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Tubular Protein Assemblies
JACS 2009
Motor Protein Conjugates
ACIE 2010, JACS ​2013
Ring-shaped Protein Assemblies
J. Biochem. 2010, ACS Nano 2014
Protein/siRNA Conjugates
JACS 2019

MANIPULATE

Manipulation of Biomolecular Functions
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Membrane Ion Permeation
JACS 2012
Control of Protein Functions
Chem. Sci. 2015, JACS 2016, JACS 2017, JACS 2019, JACS ​2020
Intracellular Drug Delivery
JACS 2015, JACS 2018, Chem. Lett. 2018
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OKURO laboratory | Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR
Copyright © 2019, Okuro laboratory
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