Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/T07497/01
Title:	Synthetic Models of Protein Molecular Tunnels
Principal Investigator:	Walton, Professor PH
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Chemistry
Organisation:	University of York
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 October 2004	Ends:	29 February 2008	Value (£):	206,064
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Chemical Biology Chemical Synthetic Methodology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Chemicals Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
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Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Enzymes are biological catalysts which are capable of catalysing extremely unusual chemical reactions. The ways in which enzymes carry out these reactions has been studies for a long time and much is known about their detailed chemistry. Lately, however, a new feature of enzymes has become to emerge. This new feature is that of 'molecular tunnels'. These tunnels exist between individual reaction centres within single enzymes. Essentially the tunnels act as molecular conduits, through which molecules can pass from reaction centre to reaction centre within the enzyme. Very little is known about these tunnels. This project aims to shed some light on how these tunnels operate at a molecular level of detail. We propose to achieve this aim by preparing synthetic molecules in the laboratory that have a tunnel-like structure as part of their design. Since these synthetic molecules are small compared to enzymes, we are able to study them in detail, and gain information about how molecules can move through such tunnels. Building on this detailed knowledge, we then propose to use the tunnels to direct the motion of molecules from one reaction centre to another. If successful, this would be the first time that this phenomenon would have been demonstrated in a synthetic molecule. By showing that we can use molecular tunnels as part of the design of a molecule, we could open up new strategies in the design of sophisticated catalysts which could mimic the action of enzymes which have tunnels as part of their structure.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.york.ac.uk