title: Catalysis in abiotic structured media: an approach to selective synthesis of biopolymers.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Wellman 9, 50 Blossom Street, Boston, Massachussetts, 02114-2696, USA. monnard@molbio.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: P-A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Monnard
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D004798:Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry; D007053:Ice; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D004655:Emulsions; D004798:Enzymes; D007053:Ice; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D008081:Liposomes; D008903:Minerals; D011506:Proteins; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water; D012313:RNA