Immobilization and characterization of an artificially assembled tri-strand β-sheet structure on a rigid Au(111) surface

Abstract

We designed and synthesized diurea type host molecules for the recognition of the tri-peptide guest molecule through the artificial formation of three-strand β-sheet structures on a rigid surface. The immobilizations of those host molecules on Au(111) surface, and the insertion of the guest molecules into the corresponding sites of immobilized host molecules were successfully carried out. Their binding characteristics were monitored by analyzing STM images before and after the insertion of guest peptides, and the characterization of the insertion in bulk phase was accomplished by NMR study.