Rationalizing the Influence of Small-Molecule Dopants on Guanine Crystal Morphology.

ABSTRACT: Many spectacular optical phenomena in animals are produced by reflective assemblies of guanine crystals. The crystals comprise planar H-bonded layers of π-stacked molecules with a high in-plane refractive index. By preferentially expressing the highly reflective π-stacked (100) crystal face and controlling its cross-sectional shape, organisms generate a diverse array of photonic superstructures. How is this precise control over crystal morphology achieved? Recently, it was found that biogenic guanine crystals are composites, containing high quantities of hypoxanthine and xanthine in a molecular alloy. Here, we crystallized guanine in the presence of these dopants and used computations to rationalize their influence on the crystal morphology and energy. Exceptional quantities of hypo

SUBMITTER: Wagner A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11428123 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature