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The key is in the pocket

Article Abstract:

Antibodies are considered as systems capable of enzyme-like catalysis. Lack of high kinetic efficiency with antibodies results from a failure to synthesize accurate transition-state analogues and the need to achieve the antigen-antibody complex on the protein surface rather than in protein pockets. The almost absolute specificity and the ability of enzymes to accelerate reaction rates by more than a million-fold are two candidate properties for mimicking. The enzyme's abilities are due to the presence of adventitious pockets that fold over the substrate after binding.

Analysis, Usage, Enzymes, Imitation, Catalytic antibodies

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Smaller, faster chemistry

Article Abstract:

It has been possible to construct a device that allows very rapid mixing of chemical species. This overcomes the problem of needing to mix chemical species much faster than the reaction rate in order to measure the rate of reaction between them. The device greatly reduces the size of the reaction vessel and thus cuts the mixing timescale to less than 10 micro-seconds. Cutting the size also increases the importance of surface effects such as surface tension.

Chemical reaction, Rate of, Chemical kinetics

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