Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
Published on: November 21, 2013
Catalytic peptide assemblies
O Zozulia1, M A Dolan, I V Korendovych
1Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, 111 College Place, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA. ikorendo@syr.edu.
Abstract:
Self-assembly of molecules often results in new emerging properties. Even very short peptides can self-assemble into structures with a variety of physical and structural characteristics. Remarkably, many peptide assemblies show high catalytic activity in model reactions reaching efficiencies comparable to those found in natural enzymes by weight. In this review, we discuss different strategies used to rationally develop self-assembled peptide catalysts with natural and unnatural backbones as well as with metal-containing cofactors.
Related Concept Videos
Peptide Bonds
Turnover Number and Catalytic Efficiency
Chymotrypsin is a pancreatic enzyme that breaks down proteins during digestion....
Catalytically Perfect Enzymes
Most enzymes...
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Protein Complex Assembly
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation

