Semisynthetic artificial enzymes

Artificial enzymes may be divided into two categories semisynthetic artificial enzymes and synthetic artificial enzymes. Semisynthetic artificial enzymes are partly prepared by biological systems. Catalytic antibodies are typical examples of semisynthetic artificial enzymes. Semisynthetic artificial enzymes are also prepared by modification of a known protein or enzyme at a defined site with a cofactor or new functional group. Synthetic artificial enzymes are prepared totally by synthetic methods. Synthetic artificial enzymes may be either relatively small molecules with well-characterized structures or macromolecules. The term syn-zymes has been coined to designate synthetic polymers with enzyme-like activities. In addition, synthetic artificial enzymes are also obtained with molecular clusters such as micelles and bilayer membranes formed by amphiphiles. 

Design of catalysts mimicking the catalytic principles of enzymes is among the great challenges of modern chemistry (9, 10). Catalytic antibodies are examples of semisynthetic artificial enzymes (11-14). Fully synthetic molecules also have been designed as enzyme mimics by using either peptidic (15, 16) or nonpeptidic (17-24) molecules. 

Hamachi. 1. Watanabe. J. Eboshi. R. Fliraoka. T. Shinkai, S. Incorporation of artificial receptors into a protein/peptide surface A strategy for on/off type of switching of semisynthetic enzymes. Biopolymers 2000, 55 (6). 459-468. 

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