符合工程化需求的生物元件设计

Biological Components Design for Engineering Requirements

从合成生物学的角度来认知生命,其本质是可数据化与可设计性。生命体中绝大多数的催化功能是由酶来实现的,因此催化元件是合成生物学中最核心的元件之一。序列决定构象,而构象则决定功能。基于空间结构的催化元件序列数字化设计,是合成生物学研究的重要热点和前沿领域。它既可为开发合成生物学功能器件,特别是全新化学催化器件提供大量原型分子,同时也为发展模块化、工程化调控元件提供设计模板和指导规律。文章针对近年来出现的生物元件,尤其是催化元件的前沿进展进行简要介绍。

Understanding life from the perspective of synthetic biology centers on the design, construction, and characterization of novel biological systems under the engineering design principles. Most catalytic functions in living organisms are performed by enzymes, which serve as one of the most important components in synthetic biology. While the amino acid sequence makes up the primary structure of the protein, the three-dimensional structure of protein determines its biochemical properties. Therefore, researches on biological functionality based on protein structure have become frontiers of the emerging field of synthetic biology. Meanwhile, the development of computational enzyme design algorithms can provide large amounts of prototype molecules for the synthetic biological devices, especially for new chemical catalytic devices, and provide design templates and guidelines for important components in synthetic biology. This study provides a brief overview of new advances in the construction and design of biological components, especially synthetic biological devices in recent years.