Molecular Control and Characterization of Chiral Hydrogen-bond Networks (HydroChiral)

Unravelling the role of water in chiral recognition

In biology and chemistry many biological molecules, such as amino acids, sugars, and drugs, are chiral, mirror images of each other. Because chiral molecules have different functions, being able to distinguish between the two is critical to understanding biological systems. The ERC-funded HYDROCHIRAL project aims to delineate the role of water in this chiral recognition. Since water molecules form hydration shells around chiral molecules and specific hydrogen bonding, they affect stability, folding and conformation of chiral molecules. Using innovative technologies, researchers will study chiral water structures in biomolecule solvation. Apart from fundamental knowledge, project findings are expected to help advance analytical chemistry and pharmaceutical applications like drug discovery.