CRC 765/3: Nucleic Acid-Ligand Conjugates – Precision Tools for High Affinity and High Specificity Interactions in Chemistry and Biology (SP B01)

The spatially defined display of ligands on nucleic acid architectures enables explorations of scope and specificity of multivalent binding. We will address fundamental questions about the reach and specificity of multivalency. Is there a distance limit for the affinity enhancements obtainable by multivalent receptor/ligand interactions? In studies of mannose binding lectins, we will explore spatially directed multivalency. It is the aim to achieve selectivity-by-multivalency for a specific receptor. Vectored alignment of anions will enable the development of specific binders for arginine-rich receptors.