Engineering Enzymes and Antibodies

Abstract

Phenomenal rate accelerations, exacting selectivities, and mild reaction conditions characterize biocatalysis and have generated considerable interest in nonbiological applications of enzymes. As a result of greater availability and purity, these molecules are now being used increasingly in organic synthesis to prepare complex natural products and novel materials. They are also being exploited industrially in the production of food additives, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals.Unfortunately, for many commercial applications, natural enzymes may be unsuitable. They may be unstable or difficult to isolate; they may function poorly at the temperatures, pH's, and substrate concentrations needed for reaction; or they may lack appropriate specificity. For many chemical reactions, a natural enzyme may not even exist. For example, natural biocatalysts for the synthetically valuable Diels-Alder cycloaddition have yet to be discovered.