The American Chemical Society hears how researchers can manipulate molecular scissors by changing the wavelength of light
Chemists working on molecular sized machines have taken a step in the right direction by producing the equivalent of a pair of scissors which measure three nanometers in length.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo, Japan, presented their work at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society last week. They used chemicals which are change their structure when exposed to different wavelengths of light called azobenzenes. A large isomer of these chemicals changes to a short form when exposed to UV light. The short form changes back to the long form when exposed to visible light.
These “handle” groups are attached to a “pivot” group. The pivot is an iron (II) ion sandwiched between two carbon plates called a ferrocene. When the handle groups change shape, the pivot swivels, moving the blade groups.
The “blade” groups are organometallic molecules called zinc porphyrins. These can bind to nitrogen containing molecules such as DNA. When the “scissors” activate they can actually rotate the attached DNA molecule.
This is an exciting development because it could be used to deliver DNA to different parts of the body, for example, which would be useful in gene work. Molecular machines like these suggest tiny building sites in which molecules manipulated by scientists are able to perform activities on a minute scale.
