Bromley Elizabeth H C, Channon Kevin, Moutevelis Efrosini, Woolfson Derek N
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, BS8 1TS, United Kingdom.
ACS Chem Biol. 2008 Jan 18;3(1):38-50. doi: 10.1021/cb700249v.
There are several approaches to creating synthetic-biological systems. Here, we describe a molecular-design approach. First, we lay out a possible synthetic-biology space, which we define with a plot of complexity of components versus divergence from nature. In this scheme, there are basic units, which range from natural amino acids to totally synthetic small molecules. These are linked together to form programmable tectons, for example, amphipathic alpha-helices. In turn, tectons can interact to give self-assembled units, which can combine and organize further to produce functional assemblies and systems. To illustrate one path through this vast landscape, we focus on protein engineering and design. We describe how, for certain protein-folding motifs, polypeptide chains can be instructed to fold. These folds can be combined to give structured complexes, and function can be incorporated through computational design. Finally, we describe how protein-based systems may be encapsulated to control and investigate their functions.
创建合成生物系统有多种方法。在此，我们描述一种分子设计方法。首先，我们规划一个可能的合成生物学空间，我们用组件复杂性与偏离自然程度的图表来定义它。在这个方案中，有基本单元，其范围从天然氨基酸到完全合成的小分子。这些单元连接在一起形成可编程的构造单元，例如两亲性α螺旋。反过来，构造单元可以相互作用形成自组装单元，这些自组装单元可以进一步组合和组织以产生功能性组件和系统。为了说明在这片广阔领域中的一条路径，我们专注于蛋白质工程和设计。我们描述了对于某些蛋白质折叠基序，如何指导多肽链折叠。这些折叠可以组合形成结构化复合物，并且可以通过计算设计赋予其功能。最后，我们描述了如何封装基于蛋白质的系统以控制和研究其功能。
