Chemileon
This article for which this illustration was made describes how Palma's built a new ring-shaped molecule made entirely from short chains of the amino acid proline to form a stable loop with a hollow center. They use a standard step-by-step peptide-making technique to control exactly which building blocks go where, then close the chain into a ring and clean it up using modern lab methods until they get a single, well-defined product. Because of the way the proline units are arranged, this ring dissolves well in both water and common organic liquids, which is unusual for this type of large molecule.
They then looked closely at how this ring behaves in different environments, using tools like NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography to see its shape at the atomic level. In organic solvents it sits in one compact shape, but in water it can switch between two forms, a bit like a “chemical chameleon” adjusting its structure to its surroundings. The team shows that water molecules help stabilize the expanded shape by forming specific hydrogen bonds, effectively nudging the ring into a different conformation.
Finally, they test how this ring can act like a tiny host that adapts its shape when it traps other molecules inside its cavity. When certain guest molecules are present, the ring reshapes itself to fit them more snugly, echoing how enzymes in biology adjust to the molecules they work on. This work lays out a clear way to make similar proline-based rings that can be tailored on the inside and outside, opening doors to future applications in areas like medicine, drug delivery, and chemical catalysis.
This piece represent a detailed close-up of a chameleon eye merging biology, chemistry and makeup.
At the center, multi‑colored mosaic-like scales, reflecting greens, yellows and pinks. Around it, the skin is covered in dense, high-contrast makeup, moving from vibrant lime and gold to deeper blues, reds and blacks, giving the whole scene a strong sense of texture and depth.
Circling the eye is a stylised molecular halo: a ring inspired by a cyclic polyproline macrocycle, built from the standard chemdraw design
