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Updated: Jul 1, 2026
08:10
Multi-enzyme Screening Using a High-throughput Genetic Enzyme Screening System
Published on: August 8, 2016
Artificial enzymes, "chemzymes": current state and perspectives
Jeannette Bjerre1, Cyril Rousseau, Lavinia Marinescu
1Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
|September 13, 2008
Summary
Artificial enzymes, or chemzymes, mimic natural enzymes for catalysis. This review highlights cyclodextrin-based chemzymes and their quantified enzyme-like activities in aqueous conditions.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Supramolecular Chemistry
Background:
- Enzymes are highly efficient biological catalysts.
- Mimicking enzyme active sites is a long-standing goal in organic chemistry.
- Few artificial enzyme models achieve efficient catalysis under physiological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in artificial enzymes (chemzymes).
- To focus on chemzymes with quantified, enzyme-like catalytic activity.
- To highlight cyclodextrin-based structures as promising enzyme models.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of artificial enzyme research.
- Focus on studies quantifying catalytic activity.
- Emphasis on chemzymes operating in aqueous media at neutral pH and ambient temperature.
Main Results:
- Summarizes chemzymes for glycosidase, oxidase, epoxidase, and esterase activities.
- Includes chemzymes catalyzing conjugate additions, cycloadditions, and self-replication.
- Cyclodextrin-based chemzymes demonstrate significant potential as enzyme mimics.
Conclusions:
- Artificial enzymes, particularly cyclodextrin-based ones, show promise for mimicking biological catalysis.
- Quantified enzyme-like activity in aqueous, neutral conditions is achievable.
- Further development of chemzymes could lead to novel catalytic applications.
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