Chemical amplification with encapsulated reagents
- Jian Chen*,
- Steffi Körner*,
- Stephen L. Craig†,
- Shirley Lin*,
- Dmitry M. Rudkevich‡, and
- Julius Rebek, Jr.*§
- *The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037; †Duke University, Dept. of Chemistry, Box 90346, Durham, NC 27708-0346; and ‡University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Box 19065, 502 Yates Street, Arlington, TX 76019-0065
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Contributed by Julius Rebek, Jr.
Abstract
Autocatalysis and chemical amplification are characteristic properties of living systems, and they give rise to behaviors such as increased sensitivity, responsiveness, and self-replication. Here we report a synthetic system in which a unique form of compartmentalization leads to nonlinear, autocatalytic behavior. The compartment is a reversibly formed capsule in which a reagent is sequestered. Reaction products displace the reagent from the capsule into solution and the reaction rate is accelerated. The resulting self-regulation is sensitive to the highly selective molecular recognition properties of the capsule.
Abbreviations
- DCC,
- dicyclohexylcarbodiimide;
- DCU,
- dicyclohexylurea
- Accepted December 28, 2001.
- Copyright © 2002, The National Academy of Sciences
