Re: Is it possible to design

I would like to know whether it is possible to design "sticky" molecules. This is something like the lock and key mechanism of an enzyme and its substrate. The only difference being that the binding should be irreversible, no matter whatever be the concentration of other inhibitors, hence the name "sticky".

The sort of "stickiness" you are asking for, though, corresponds to formation of a new chemical bond. This is also done all the time: it's called organic synthesis. But irreversible stickiness is not terribly useful; the reason an enzyme can act as a catalyst is that the "stickiness" is reversible. The substrate sticks, the reaction is catalyzed, the substrate unsticks!

Some people are looking at almost-irreversible stickiness of various kinds; the usual goal is a set of what Josef Michl calls "molecular Tinkertoys^TM". He published a nice article in Chemical Reviews about the general area some years ago, and I believe it's still one of his research interests.

One more thing: you specified the binding should be irreversible, no matter whatever be the concentration of other inhibitors. This shows a confusion as to what it is that "inhibitors" do. An "inhibitor" slows or stops a reaction (a kinetic effect); it doesn't interfere with the stability of the product (a thermodynamic effect, more or less). So if any product of your "sticky reaction" is formed at all, it will remain regardless. The inhibitors will just slow or stop the formation of your product.