I. Protein-directed dynamic combinatorial chemistry

Dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) studies mixtures of compounds formed through reversible reactions and the response of those mixtures to external stimuli. We work with protein-directed DCC systems (PD-DCC) to identify molecules that activate or inhibit protein functions. This methodology can be applied as a hit identification tool in drug discovery, or it can find interesting biotechnological applications enabling efficient enzymatic processes.

In Protein-directed DCC, the molecular recognition process occurs in a thermodynamically controlled Dynamic Combinatorial Library (DCL) that can adapt and self-correct the bonds between the different components in the presence of a protein template. If one or more molecules present in the mixture bind to it, yielding a more stable complex, the equilibrium will be displaced to amplify the amount of this compound at the expense of other non-binding constituents (Figure 1).