CAREER: Catalyzing Polymerization in the Laboratory and Discussion in the Classroom with Artificial Metalloenzymes

在这个由化学系化学催化项目资助的项目中，Jared C.芝加哥大学的刘易斯正在开发人工金属酶（ArM），它由共价连接到蛋白质支架上的烯烃聚合催化剂组成，以控制聚烯烃的结构和功能。这项研究涉及的辅助因子的合成的基础上已知的烯烃聚合催化剂，不同的蛋白质支架的设计和表达，以及不同的支架使用合成的辅助因子，以产生拟议的ArMs的生物共轭。阿贡国家实验室正在使用光谱方法和X射线晶体学对ArM结构进行详细表征。这些ArMs催化烯烃聚合的能力正在探索中，合理的设计和定向进化的组合被用来优化所观察到的活性和选择性。考虑到聚烯烃在日常生活中的重要性，ArM聚合催化剂开发计划正在利用Irene C.的当地中学（8年级）学生开发化学，催化和材料教学模块。埃尔南德斯科学促进中学（HMS）。这将为HMS学生提供额外的材料化学和芝加哥大学的学生与真实的世界的机会，解释科学和接收反馈的材料化学相关的讨论。这项工作的更广泛的影响包括发现控制聚合物结构和功能的新机制的潜力，新的功能聚合物，以及在化学和蛋白质工程的接口学生和博士后独特的培训机会。该项目的重点是开发人工金属酶组成的烯烃聚合催化剂共价连接到蛋白质支架，以控制聚烯烃的结构和功能。人工金属酶催化烯烃聚合的能力正在探索中，合理设计和定向进化的结合正在用于优化观察到的活性和选择性。鉴于聚烯烃在日常生活中的重要性，该催化剂开发计划将被用于与当地中学生开发化学，催化和材料的教学模块。

In this project funded by the Chemical Catalysis program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Jared C. Lewis at the University of Chicago is developing artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) comprised of olefin polymerization catalysts covalently linked to protein scaffolds to control polyolefin structure and function. This research involves the synthesis of cofactors based on known olefin polymerization catalysts, the design and expression of different protein scaffolds, and the bioconjugation of different scaffolds using synthetic cofactors to generate the proposed ArMs. Detailed characterization of ArM structure is being pursued using spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography at Argonne National Labs. The ability of these ArMs to catalyze olefin polymerization is being explored, and a combination of rational design and directed evolution is being used to optimize the observed activity and selectivity. Given the importance of polyolefins in every day life, this ArM polymerization catalyst development program is being leveraged to develop teaching modules on chemistry, catalysis, and materials with local middle school (Grade 8) students at the Irene C. Hernandez Middle School for the Advancement of the Sciences (HMS). This will provide HMS students with additional curriculum-relevant discussion of materials chemistry and University of Chicago students with real world opportunities for explaining science and receiving feedback on their teaching. The broader impacts of this work include the potential for discovering new mechanisms to control polymer structure and function, new functional polymers, and unique training opportunities for students and postdocs at the interface of chemistry and protein engineering.This project focuses on the development of artificial metalloenzymes comprised of olefin polymerization catalysts covalently linked to protein scaffolds to control polyolefin structure and function. The ability of artificial metalloenzymes to catalyze olefin polymerization is being explored, and a combination of rational design and directed evolution is being used to optimize the observed activity and selectivity. Given the importance of polyolefins in everyday life, this catalyst development program will be leveraged to develop teaching modules on chemistry, catalysis, and materials with local middle school students.