Lessons from the immune system: From catalysis to materials science

Abstract

Nature has produced a remarkable array of molecules that perform the complex processes of living organisms, from the immune response and catalysis to signal transduction and gene regulation. However, in contrast to chemists who typically synthesize and characterize a single molecule at a time, Nature draws upon a vast combinatorial library of precursor molecules and screens them for desired properties. Perhaps the most notable example of this strategy is the immune system, which is capable of generating tremendous molecular diversity via gene rearrangements and somatic mutation and screening this diversity for high-affinity, selective receptors to foreign antigens. This natural example of the power of combinatorial processes has inspired chemists and biochemists alike to apply this strategy to other problems, ranging from catalysis and drug discovery to materials science. In this Account, we will describe a number of ongoing efforts in our laboratory which may help to illustrate the potential of combinatorial libraries in chemistry.