Chemistry Nobel for the 'directors' of protein evolution
Chemistry Nobel for the 'directors' of protein evolution
Since the first signs of life emerged some 3.7 billion years ago, the Earth has been filled with different organisms in thermal waters, deep oceans and deserts. Evolution has overcome the chemical problems of all environments. The proteins have been optimized, changed and renewed, creating a great diversity to adapt better to the conditions.
Inspired by the power of evolution, this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry has used the same principles to develop proteins that solve the chemical problems of humanity. Thus, they have managed in the laboratory to direct and accelerate the evolution of enzymes and binding proteins.
The American Frances H. Arnold (1956), of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA), led in 1993 the first evolution of enzymes - proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. Since then, he has refined the methods that are now commonly used to develop new catalysts.
The uses of Arnold enzymes include the manufacture of more environmentally friendly chemicals, pharmaceuticals and renewable fuels for a greener transportation sector.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry of 2018: Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter. (Photo: Niklas Elmehed. © Nobel Media)
The other half of this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry is shared by George P. Smith (USA, 1941), from the University of Missouri, and Sir Gregory P. Winter (United Kingdom, 1951), from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge.
In 1985, Smith developed an elegant method called phage display (or phage display or bacteriophage), which consists of these viruses that infect the bacteria can be used to develop new proteins.
In his case, Winter used this technique to direct the evolution of antibodies with one goal: to produce new drugs. The first one obtained with this method was adalimumab, approved in 2002 and used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Since then, this technique has produced antibodies that can neutralize toxins, counteract autoimmune diseases and control metastatic cancer. It is only the beginning of the revolution of directed evolution. (Source: SINC)
.
.
SOURCE LINK ERESVIRAL.COM https://www.beviral.online
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario