Molecular Machines in Lipid Bilayers | Langton Research Group

Our research group is interested in designing synthetic molecular machines which act as switches, motors and sensors. Molecular machines are molecules, or discrete assemblies of molecules, in which nano-mechanical motion can be controlled and exploited to carry out a specific task. We are currently pioneering the development of artificial molecular machines as new stimuli-responsive components for applications in synthetic biology.

For example, in a recent publication we have reported a transmembrane molecular machine that acts as a photo-responsive ion transport relay, by tethering a photoswitch to a phospholipid. Transmembrane ion transport is deactivated when the "telescopic arm" of the relay system is retracted (achieved by photo-irradiation with 530 nm light) or when the anion-receptor was present on only the outer leaflet of the membrane. Anion transport across the membrane is switched on when the "telescopic arm" is extended and the transporter is present on both sides of the membrane, facilitated by relay molecules working cooperatively to pass ions between them (JACS, 2022).

Related follow up work showed the value of halogen bonding systems in this approach, namely increased transporter activity and increased selectivity for chloride over hydroxide, relative to their hydrogen bonding analogues (Chem. Sci., 2023).

1. A Photo-responsive Transmembrane Anion Transporter Relay

T. G. Johnson, A. Sadeghi-Kelishadi and M. J. Langton, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 10455-10461

2. Halogen Bonding Relay and Mobile Anion Transporters with Kinetically Controlled Chloride Selectivity

T. G. Johnson, A. Docker, A. Sadeghi-Kelishadi and M. J. Langton, Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 5006-5013

3. Molecular Machines for the Control of Transmembrane Transport

T. G. Johnson and M. J. Langton, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, 145, 27167