One of the goals of green chemistry is the development and use of safe catalysts to improve the efficiency of reactions. This lowers the environmental impact of the process by removing harmful chemicals that would otherwise be used or lowers the energy costs of the production. Now research from the University of Washington is shedding new light on the oldest form of catalysts known, enzymes. Researchers at UW have managed to create synthetic retro aldolases to speed non natural reactions. Their new computational techniques have allowed them to create the new type of catalysts, and may very well open the door on a new type of catalyst that can be custom designed according to the needs of the reaction.
DOI: 10.1126/science.1152692
http://www.sciencemag.org.proxy.library.emory.edu/cgi/content/abstract/319/5868/1387
Monday, February 23, 2009
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