Catalysis in abiotic structured media: an approach to selective synthesis of biopolymers |
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Authors: | P.-A. Monnard |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Wellman 9, 50 Blossom Street, Boston, Massachussetts 02114-2696, USA |
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Abstract: | Micro- and nanoenvironments formed by amphiphile self-assembled structures, water-ice lattices and minerals have well-defined, repeating, chemical and physical properties that can be used for selective synthesis of biopolymers, such as RNAs and proteins. The advances made in the development of polymerization supported by these micro- and nanosystems are reviewed here. In particular, it is shown that these systems promote non-enzymatic biopolymerization, yielding long polymers whose sequence composition is determined by the interactions between monomers and the supporting environment. When used to compartmentalize enzymatic biopolymerization, micro- and nanostructures allow the implementation of molecular selection and evolution schemes, which are difficult in homogeneous medium, yielding very active molecules. Thus, micro- and nanoenvironment approaches to the synthesis and selection of biopolymers could be developed into a new biotechnological tool for the production of biopolymers with novel functions.Received 3 August 2004; received after revision 6 October 2004; accepted 21 October 2004 |
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Keywords: | Biocatalysis micro- and nanoenvironment compartmentalization amphiphile structures eutectic phase in water ice minerals synthesis and selection of RNA and proteins |
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