Information ratchets rely on the presence of kinetic asymmetry in a chemical reaction network and have been mostly applied for the design of molecular machines, and more recently, materials, and molecules. Here we extend the use of information ratchets to the field of molecular recognition. 5/n

The approach mimics ‘kinetic proofreading’ by error-correcting enzymes that are used by nature for processes in which selectivity based on thermodynamics is insufficient, for example, DNA replication. 4/n

Under non-equilibrium conditions, the distribution between ‘red’ and ‘green’ duplexes is no longer determined by the thermodynamic equilibrium constant, but by the rates at which duplexes are depleted and regenerated in a chemical reaction network. 3/n

In the paper we show that an information ratchet mechanism can be used to improve the selectivity in molecular recognition between DNA strands. By operating under an energy-dissipating kinetic-control regime the selectivity in DNA duplex formation increases from 2:1 at equilibrium to 6:1. 2/n

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We are happy that prof. E.W. (Bert) Meijer from TU Eindhoven has agreed to deliver the opening lecture of the conference.

The focus of the European Symposium on Organic Reactivity (ESOR) is on physical-organic aspects of organic reactivity in different chemistry disciplines (experimental, computational, supramolecular, systems, bioorganic, prebiotic, surfaces,...)