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Biomimicry as a basis for drug discovery
1Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha 53141, USA.
Summary
Mimicking natural product evolution, including inventive evolution and horizontal gene transfer, offers powerful strategies for drug discovery. This approach generates novel compounds and therapeutic gene delivery methods.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Natural products are a vital source of therapeutic compounds.
- Understanding the evolution of secondary metabolites aids drug discovery.
- Inventive evolution and horizontal gene transfer are key evolutionary mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how mimicking natural product evolution can advance drug discovery.
- To highlight methods like combinatorial synthesis and genetic manipulation.
- To discuss the potential of mimicking horizontal gene transfer for gene therapy.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing literature on natural product evolution and drug discovery.
- Discussing combinatorial synthesis for generating compound libraries.
- Examining genetic engineering for creating 'unnatural natural products'.
Main Results:
- Mimicking inventive evolution leads to new drug candidates.
- Combinatorial synthesis yields diverse chemical libraries for screening.
- Engineered natural products and gene transfer mimicry offer therapeutic potential.
Conclusions:
- Emulating natural product evolution is a potent drug discovery paradigm.
- Genetic and chemical evolution principles provide innovative therapeutic leads.
- This approach expands the scope of drug development and gene therapy.