Materials World Network: Chemical and BIological Approaches to Sequence Controlled Polymers

序列控制聚合物（SCP）是一种线性高分子，其化学和物理性质可以用原子级分辨率编程。这些分子的合成路线的发展有望在新材料、纳米技术和医学方面取得技术突破。然而，此时，合成聚合方法缺乏效率和顺序控制。此外，它们不接近自然界中发现的准确性、再现性和控制。为了应对这一重大挑战，西北大学和英国沃里克大学共同开发了化学（例如，开环聚合）和生物（例如，翻译装置的进化）方法，以实现序列控制的乙烯基多肽的成本效益和高产率的合成。乙烯基氨基酸将被合成并掺入天然聚合物中，赋予生物聚合物新的化学功能，并作为合成更复杂的模板导向SCP的模型。具体目标包括：（1）乙烯基氨基酸文库的合成;（2）将乙烯基氨基酸连接到转移RNA衔接子分子;（3）用互补的化学和生物学方法合成乙烯基多肽;以及（4）乙烯基杂合生物分子的性质的表征和应用。在短期内，使用进化的生物催化剂和化学方法生产乙烯基SCP以及乙烯基SCP表征的进展将使新的应用成为可能。通过使用乙烯基官能团作为柄，多肽将被定制以显示新的组装、响应性和催化活性。此外，调节和指导乙烯基SCP组装的能力将允许开发一类新的功能性生物杂化材料。从长远来看，SCP合成的新策略将提供自组织材料的潜力，这些材料具有比目前存在的更大的化学多样性、可调性和技术可能性。将生物学的精确性和可重复性与化学的复杂性和多样性相结合的结构广泛的合成聚合物，最终能够合成新的分子类别，而这些分子类别是不容易通过化学方法获得的。目前的方法，以及利用基因编码的进化寻找功能材料。除了基础发现和技术开发，美英团队将建立和维护一个有价值的网络，提供有竞争力的，跨学科的和全球参与的研究。这个网络将培养下一批“全脑”研究人员，他们能够在科学学科、实验室和大陆之间自如地工作。此外，通过探索美国和英国外展教育项目与使用交互式视觉体验描述科学之间的差异，该网络将在吸引公众兴趣方面发挥重要作用。该团队特别重视科学领域的女性，并计划利用跨大西洋合作来激励和鼓励女性在生物学、工程学和材料科学领域追求自己的目标。

Sequence-controlled polymers (SCPs) are linear macromolecules whose chemical and physical properties can be programmed with atomic-scale resolution. The development of synthetic routes toward these molecules promises technological breakthroughs in novel materials, nanotechnology, and medicine. However, at this time, synthetic polymerization methods lack efficiency and sequence control. Moreover, they do not approach the accuracy, reproducibility, and control found in nature. To address this grand challenge, this joint effort between Northwestern University and the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom develops chemical (e.g., ring opening polymerization) and biological (e.g., evolution of the translation apparatus) methods towards the cost-effective and high-yielding synthesis of sequence-controlled vinyl polypeptides. Vinyl amino acids will be synthesized and incorporated into natural polymers, endowing biopolymers with new chemical functionality and serving as a model for the synthesis of more complex template-directed SCPs. Specific aims include: (1) synthesis of a library of vinyl amino acids; (2) linking vinyl amino acids to transfer-RNA adapter molecules; (3) synthesis of vinyl polypeptides with complementary chemical and biological approaches; and (4) characterization and application of the properties of vinyl hybrid biomolecules. In the short term, progress towards the production of vinyl SCPs using evolved biological catalysts and chemical methods, as well as vinyl SCP characterization, will enable new applications. By using vinyl functionality as a handle, polypeptides will be tailored to display novel assembly, responsiveness, and catalytic activity. Furthermore, the ability to tune and direct the assembly of vinyl SCPs will allow for the development of a new class of functional biohybrid materials. In the long term, new strategies for SCP synthesis will offer the potential of self-organized materials with greater chemical diversity, tunability, and technological possibilities than presently exist.The possibilities of producing evolvable, structurally broad synthetic polymers that meld the accuracy and reproducibility of biology with the complexity and diversity of chemistry could ultimately enable the synthesis of new molecule classes not readily attainable by current methods, as well as the exploitation of genetically encoded evolution in the search for functional materials. Beyond fundamental discovery and technology development, the US-UK team will establish and maintain a valuable network that provides for competitive, interdisciplinary, and globally engaged research. This network will train the next cadre of "whole-brain" researchers who are comfortable operating between scientific disciplines, laboratories, and continents. Moreover, by exploring differences between outreach education programs and the use of interactive visual experiences to describe science in the US and in the UK, this network will be of great use in engaging public interest. The team places particular emphasis on women in science and plan to use the transatlantic collaboration to inspire and encourage women to pursue their goals at the interface of biology, engineering, and materials science.