A supramolecular assembly enables discrimination between metalloproteins and non-metalloproteins.

Discriminating proteins using simple methods is a highly ambitious task. Herein, we provide the first report of a cyclodextrin based supramolecular host-guest assembly, which without involving any specially designed receptor and transducer, yields a distinct fluorescence response i.e., turn-on response towards non-metalloproteins and turn-off response towards metalloproteins, and leads to their detection and discrimination.