Mimetic, or artificial enzymes are molecules or molecular aggregates that mimic the structural features of enzyme active center, such as shape, size, and microenvironment at molecular level. With the development of nanoscience and supramolecular technologies, the construction of supramolecular mimetic enzymes with specific catalytic activity has become a hotspot in both scientific research and application. Artificial peptide metalloenzymes have peptide molecules as the basic units, and the self-assembly of peptide supramolecular structure with enzymatic catalytic activity is driven by a series of non-covalent interactions synergistically. The structure and biochemical properties of peptide metalloenzyme are akin to those of natural enzymes. Furthermore, since peptide molecules are biocompatible and easy to be modified, artificial peptides metalloenzymes would be ideal candidates for artificial enzyme fabrication with specific functions. In this review, the progress of the mimetic metalloenzymes fabrication through peptide self-assembly has been summarized. The effects of peptide self-assembly, supramolecular structure, microenvironment of metal active center, as well as pH value on the artificial enzyme catalytic activity has been reviewed. The enhancement of the stability of self-assembled nanostructures, the improvement of catalytic activity and the broadening of the reaction types catalyzed by artificial enzymes are the main challenge in artificial peptides metalloenzyme study. Fabrication more stable peptide self-assembled nanostructure and more precise active centers to mimic those of the natural enzymes might be the right strategies.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Effects of self-assembly nanostructures on metalloenzyme
2.1 Nanotube
2.2 Nanofibers
2.3 Coiled-coil
3 The secondary structure of peptide self-assemblies in metalloenzyme
3.1 β-hairpin
3.2 α-helix
4 Effects of spatial structure on metalloenzyme
4.1 Regulation of metal ions
4.2 Formation of protein interface
4.3 Hydrophobic interface
5 Metal-free peptide self-assembly artificial enzyme
6 Conclusion and outlook