Making mini metalloenzymes

Designing metallopeptoid biomimetic catalysts using non-endogenous metals, building on our discovery that short metal-binding peptides act as mini-enzymes with Michaelis-Menten kinetics.

school Student intake
This project is open for Bachelor, Honours and Master students.
group Group
Nitsche Group
label Research theme
Chemical and Synthetic Biology
Inorganic Chemistry and Organometallic Chemistry
Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Development
traffic Project status
Potential

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About

Enzymes are highly efficient and stereoselective catalysts for a wide variety of reactions. Due to the limitations of the 20 canonical amino acids, enzymes frequently require metals for catalysis. However, the range of metals used by nature is limited. This project will explore non-endogenous, non-toxic metals to design and test metallopeptoids as biomimetic catalysts that are smaller and more sustainable alternatives to enzymes and commonly used homogenous catalysts. We have already demonstrated that short peptides that tightly bind metals can act as mini-enzymes, exhibiting classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. This project will build on these findings by advancing green metal-peptide and protein catalysis towards enantioselective systems.