This Project is in the area of the Chemistry of Life Processes and is supported jointly by Chemistry and Biochemistry. It involves the production of antibodies that are potential enzyme-like catalysts. The project is directed toward the use of monoclonal antibodies to simulate the features of enzymes by exposing them to antigens that mimic the transition state of the desired chemical reaction. Catalytic antibodies that take advantage of transition metal ions as Lewis acids might simulate the activity of a wide variety of metalloenzymes catalyzing important chemical transformations. The transition state of such processees is obtained from the complex consisting of the substrates coordinated to the metal ion through a reactive functional group. Antibodies made against metal chelates with substrate-like ligands may act as metalloenzymes by favoring assembly of the substrates and metal cofactor in the combining site through antibody-assisted chelation. The chemical process is allowed, then dissociation of the complex releases the products. This project is a continuation of one previously supported by the Foundation grant DMB-8607352.
