GTX1/4 can induce the formation of an antiparallel G-quadruplex structure in aptamer GO18-T-d and combine steadily in the groove at the top of the G-quadruplex structure. The complex structures and special induced fit mechanism between aptamer and small molecules provide a reference for aptamer development in molecular diagnostics and therapeutic application.

We report a simple, reliable high-throughput method for patterning passivated silicon with reactive organic monolayers and demonstrate selective functionalization of the patterned substrates with both small molecules and proteins. The approach completely protects silicon from chemical oxidation, provides precise control over the shape and size of the patterned features in the 100 nm domain, and...

Base-pockets (non-complementary base-pairs) in a double-stranded DNA play a crucial role in biological processes. Because of thermal fluctuations, it can lower the stability of DNA, whereas, in case of DNA aptamer, small molecules, e.g., adenosinemonophosphate and adenosinetriphosphate, form additional hydrogen bonds with base-pockets termed as "binding-pockets," which enhance the stability. Us...

We herein describe a high-throughput small molecule microarray (SMM) method that enables quick and cost-effective identification of potent inhibitors of metalloproteases in an activity-dependent manner, thereby offering a rapid means for inhibitor discovery and profiling.

Self-assembly of small molecules in water to form nanofibres, besides generating sophisticated biomaterials, promises a simple system inside cells for regulating cellular processes. But lack of a convenient approach for studying the self-assembly of small molecules inside cells hinders the development of such systems. Here we report a method to image enzyme-triggered self-assembly of small mole...

Here we report the first example of the use of supramolecular hydrogels to discover the protein targets of aggregates of small molecules.

In this brief account, we review work from our lab with a focus on late-stage introduction of fluorine and fluorinated functional groups into small molecules. We attempt to highlight practical developments, which we believe may have potential for industrial applications, and critically reflect on developments that may not yet meet the bar for practical use.

Depending on the methods of preparation, amphiphilic small molecules aggregate to form nanostructures with different morphologies that interact with cytosol proteins in a drastically different manner, thus illustrating the first example of morphological dependent protein binding of nanoscale molecular aggregates.

The discovery of a small molecule inhibitor that targets the inflammasome sensor NLRP3 offers a new path for the development of selective inflammasome blockers with potential therapeutic benefit in a wide range of human diseases (in this issue, see Jiang et al., https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20171419).

This Tutorial Review provides a short survey of anion sensing by small molecule anion receptors, molecular ensembles and chemodosimeters. The review highlights the many different mechanisms and approaches employed by supramolecular chemists for anion sensing and the wide structural variety present in these systems.