Toward Molecular Cybernetics – the Art of Communicating Chemical Systems

Abstract

The emerging field of molecular cybernetics has the potential to widely broaden our perception of chemistry. Chemistry will develop beyond its current focus that is mainly concerned with single transformations, pure compounds, and/or defined mixtures. On this way, chemistry will become autonomous, networked and smart through communicating molecules each of which serves a control engineering purpose, like the set of wheels in the machinery of life. The present personal account describes our latest developments in this field.

The Information Encoded in Structures: Theory and Application to Molecular Cybernetics

“…Although artificial molecular machines have received ample attention over the past 30 years and despite the spotlight that the awarding of the Nobel Prize has inevitably given this field (Sauvage, Stoddart, and Feringa in 2016) (Boyer, 1998), they are predominantly designed and studied as stand-alone devices. Cybernetic aspects, which play a vital role in the operation of natural machines, have so far been completely left out (Schmittel & Howlader, 2020). This deficit is rooted in the extreme complexity of even small cybernetic circuitry that has so far eluded any planning approach.…”

“…While recently molecular machines have successfully been driven with chemical energy, it would be important to influence their modus operandi with further control variables. The Schmittel group has focused on wiring molecular machines to molecular switches that influence the state of the machine, actually in many cases catalytic machinery, with the goal to later drive them with chemical energy (Schmittel & Howlader, 2020). At present, the machines operate on thermal energy whereas directionality is controlled through molecular switching via chemical signaling.…”

Proton transfer network with luminescence display controls OFF/ON catalysis that generates a high-speed slider-on-deck

“…Proton relays in living systems 1 are often coupled to bio-machinery with enzymatic catalysis. 2 Frequently, such proton transfer systems comprise intricate networks with information exchange 3,4 amongst multiple components. Using manmade molecules, 5 however, it is still arduous to create networks that approach the complexity 6 and functions of biosystems.…”

Catalytic machinery in motion: controlling catalysis via speed

“…1 Contrastingly, the activity in manmade catalytic machinery 2 so far is mostly regulated by binary (photo)chemical inputs leading to ON-OFF 3 or UP-DOWN 4,5 regulation. To reach deeper cybernetic control, 6 regulation by more than one input is desirable. 7 Previously, we have presented catalytic rotors and sliders where the catalytic activity was correlated with the motional speed.…”

“…1 Contrastingly, the activity in manmade catalytic machinery 2 so far is mostly regulated by binary (photo)chemical inputs leading to ON–OFF 3 or UP–DOWN 4,5 regulation. To reach deeper cybernetic control, 6 regulation by more than one input is desirable. 7…”