Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation
Published on: December 29, 2021
Cucurbit[6]uril-monoazide: towards functional CB[6]-tethered DNA (pseudo)rotaxanes
Noah Beltrami1, Soumen Pradhan2,1, Nathan A Rudman3
1Department of Chemistry, Tulane University 2015 Percival Stern Hall New Orleans Louisiana 70118 USA.
None:
Cucurbit[6]uril, CB[6], is an important host due to its aqueous molecular recognition and metal-free click chemistry properties. A crucial missing link in the field is the installation of appropriate functionalizable handles on these hosts, which could then be covalently coupled to biomacromolecules. This, in turn, would help realize the full potential of CB[6]-based systems, especially in biomedical and bioimaging applications. However, there has been no development of CB[6] derivatives that can undergo such direct one-to-one conjugations. Here, we demonstrate the first synthesis of a CB[6]-monoazide (CB[6]-N3) derivative that can be readily attached to DNA via strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition. Further, the orthogonal molecular recognition properties of the DNA and CB[6] domains of the covalent conjugates were harnessed to develop (a) a host-DNA rotaxane via CB[6] facilitated click chemistry and (b) a pseudorotaxane DNA duplex that can detect an input sequence via tandem DNA strand displacement and CB[6]-mediated xenon hyper-CEST signaling.
Related Concept Videos
DNA Helicases
Chair Conformation of Cyclohexane
The hydrogen atoms linked to carbons are arranged in two different axial and equatorial orientations to achieve this staggered...
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
Conformations of Cyclohexane
The chair form is the most stable and derives its name from its resemblance to the “easy chair.” In the chair conformation, two carbon atoms are arranged out-of-plane — one above and one below, minimizing the torsional strain. In the chair form, the bond angle is very close to the ideal tetrahedral value,...
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview
Removing one hydrogen from the intervening CH2 group with both...
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

