The Lars Baltzer laboratory

Organic chemistry in proteins.

 

The versatility of the polypeptide scaffold is used to explore fundamental phenomena in molecular recognition and reactivity. We have designed proteins from scratch to serve as scaffolds for new catalysts and receptors in a variety of applications.

 

Catalysts for ester hydrolysis, transamination, decarboxylation, phosphoryl transfer and other reactions have been designed, and others are underway. Catalytically active assemblies developed in model proteins have been introduced into human glutathione transferase A1-1.

 

Designed polypeptides are used as reagents in reactions with active esters to form conjugates with small organic molecules, sugars, nucleic acids, peptides, fluorescent probes, etc., and combinations thereof. Combinatorial and semirational protein functionalisation strategies are used to form receptors for native proteins.

 

Receptor molecules that combine the properties of polypeptides and small organic compounds show high affinities and selectivities for proteins in complex biological media. The combination of peptide functionality with the properties of small, rigid and multifunctiona molecules relaxes considerably the need for well-defined tertiary structures and complexity in protein recognition.

 

Sequences of more than 40 residues are routinely prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis and characterised by a variety of spectroscopic and spectrometric methods.

 

          Catalysis                             Molecular recognition of proteins         

 

Clinical diagnostics                  Structures of polypeptide conjugates