Artificial metalloenzymes, supramolecular

Material scientists have exploited a range of ferritin superfamily proteins as supramolecular templates to encapsulate nanoparticles and/or as well-defined building blocks for fabrication of higher order assembly. For example, the organometallic Rh(nbd) (nbd = norbomadiene) can be immobilised at specific sites within the apoferritin molecule where it can catalyse the polymerisation of phenylacetylene within the protein shell (Figure 19.10). This is but one example of the quest to develop highly effective artificial metalloenzymes by rational design of metal coordination sites within the ferritin molecule. 

Abstract Artificial metalloenzymes can be created by incorporating an active metal catalyst precursor in a macromolecular host. When considering such artificial metalloenzymes, the first point to address is how to localize the active metal moiety within the protein scaffold. Although a covalent anchoring strategy may seem most attractive at first, supramolecular anchoring strategy has proven most successful thus far. 

Figure 10.9 Ligands used for artificial metalloenzymes designed for supramolecular anchoring to SAV.

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