Host-Guest Molecular Interactions: From Chemistry to Biology Chairman: I.O. Sutherland 1991 Host—guest molecular interactions lead to the formation of molecular assemblies containing two or more species. It has long been recognized that such ‘supramolecular’ association is of fundamental importance in biological processes, but it is only recently that chemists have begun to design and synthesize novel host molecules. The field is relatively new, but exciting applications are already emerging, for example in the development of molecular sensors, of new chromogenic reagents and of reagents for selective metal ion capture or for the capture of molecules such as urea. In addition, it is expected that improved understanding of the interactions in relatively simple complexes of synthetic host molecules will lead to a better understanding of the much more complex biological systems in which the host molecules are either proteins or nucleic acids. In this book the contributions from experts in the chemical and biological sciences range over intermolecular interactions in both synthetic and natural (biological) systems. Topics covered include biomimetic chemistry, the design of synthetic host molecules which mimic biological processes such as ion transport across membranes and catalysis, and the concepts of preorganization and template-directed synthesis. Molecular recognition processes involved in binding of antibiotics to peptides and to DNA and in binding of sequence-specific gene inhibitors to DNA are discussed. The potential applications of oligonucleotides with modified phosphate diester linkages as probes of DNA—protein interactions and for anti-HIV treatment are described. Interactions between proteins and other molecules and the computational modelling of interactions are considered. Related Ciba Foundation Symposia: No 119 Synthetic peptides as antigens Chairman: G.L. Ada 1986 ISBN 0 471 99838 9 No 145 Carbohydrate recognition in cellular function Chairman: E. Ruoslahti 1989 ISBN 0 471 92307 9 No 159 Catalytic antibodies Chairman: W.P. Jencks 1991 ISBN 0 471 92962 X