Tetrabiphenylporphyrin-based receptors for protein surfaces show sub-nanomolar affinity and enhance unfolding

A family of tetrabiphenylporphyrin-based receptors has been synthesized. Receptor 7 showed sub-nanomolar affinity (Kd=0.67 nM) in binding to the surface of cytochrome c. In addition, a stoichiometric amount of the receptor 7 caused a lowering in the Tm of cytochrome c from 85 to 35 °C.