Self-Assembly Dynamics of a Cylindrical Capsule Monitored
by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Elizabeth S. Barrett
Trevor J. Dale
Julius Rebek
10.1021/ja071774j.s001
https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Self_Assembly_Dynamics_of_a_Cylindrical_Capsule_Monitored_by_Fluorescence_Resonance_Energy_Transfer/2996266
The constituent cavitands of a cylindrical capsule were labeled with donor and acceptor
fluorophores, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was employed as a tool to study the
dynamics of self-assembly. When donor and acceptor dyes are present in the same capsular assembly,
they are brought within 25 Å of each other, a distance suitable for efficient energy transfer to occur between
them. This allowed for the study of interacting species at nanomolar concentrations providing information
unattainable from NMR experiments. The kinetic stability of the capsule in the presence of various guest
molecules was investigated which revealed a range of more than 4 orders of magnitude in the rates of
cylindrical capsule exchange. While the thermodynamic stability of the capsule generally dictates the self-assembly dynamics, it was discovered that longer rigid guests can impart a significant kinetic barrier to
monomer exchange.
2007-07-18 00:00:00
fluorescence resonance energy transfer
dynamic
stability
acceptor fluorophores
25 Å
capsule exchange
donor
FRET
nanomolar concentrations
Cylindrical Capsule Monitored
capsular assembly
Fluorescence Resonance Energy TransferThe constituent cavitands
acceptor dyes
NMR experiments
monomer exchange
4 orders
guest molecules
energy transfer