Recent work in the Davis group has led to GluHUT (Glucose-binding Hexaurea Temple), a molecular cage which employs non-covalent interactions to bind glucose in water with high affinity and extreme selectivity. Here we will aim to design new cages with complementary selectivity, targeting other carbohydrates. Designs will exploit some features of GluHUT but will introduce new arrangements of hydrogen bonding and apolar units, including building blocks supplied by other members of the Network. We expect to discover at least one receptor for a biorelevant carbohydrate with potential for medical applications.
Information about the related PhD position and how to apply are available here.
