Conjugated‐Protein Mimics with Molecularly Imprinted Reconstructible and Transformable Regions that are Assembled Using Space‐Filling Prosthetic Groups

Abstract Conjugated‐protein mimics were obtained using a new molecular imprinting strategy combined with post‐imprinting modifications. An antibiotic was employed as a model template molecule, and a polymerizable template molecule was designed, which was composed of the antibiotic and two different prosthetic groups attached through a disulfide bond and Schiff base formation. After co‐polymerization with a cross‐linker, the template molecule was removed together with the prosthetic groups, yielding the apo‐type scaffold. Through conjugation of the two different prosthetic groups at pre‐determined positions within the apo‐type scaffold, the apo cavity was transformed into a functionalized holo cavity, which enables the on/off switching of the molecular recognition ability, signal transduction activity for binding events, and photoresponsive activity.