title: The mimic chain reaction.
abstract: It is sometimes speculated that the equivalent of the polymerase chain reaction might be developed for identification of peptides, proteins or other molecules. In general, though, it is believed that there can be no way to amplify targets such as proteins. Natural amplification systems do, however, exist as in the case of certain autoinducer systems in bacteria. Here, we outline a possible, generic method, the mimic chain reaction, for obtaining peptides with 3-D structures that mimic the 3-D structure of their targets. These targets would include a variety of molecules, including proteins. There are therefore two categories of applications: the ability via amplification firstly to detect a known protein or other target at an extremely low concentration, and secondly to obtain a set of peptides that mimic the structure of an unknown target and that can be used to obtain a 'photofit'.
authors.affiliation: Theoretical Biology Unit, EA 3829, University of Rouen, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France. victor.norris@univ-rouen.fr
authors.forename: Vic
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thierry
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amar
authors.forename: I Barry
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molina
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry; D009876:Operon; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011328:Prions / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides; D011328:Prions; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface