abzyme

Abzymes are antibodies that have been engineered or selected to have catalytic activity, meaning they can function as enzymes. Typically, antibodies are produced by the immune system to bind specifically to antigens, which are foreign molecules. Enzymes, on the other hand, are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy of specific substrates. The concept of abzymes bridges these two biological entities, creating catalysts that are generated through the immune system's repertoire.

The development of abzymes began in the 1980s with the realization that antibodies could be designed to bind to transition states of chemical reactions. By mimicking the transition state of a reaction with an antigen, an immune response can be elicited that produces antibodies that bind strongly to this antigen. These antibodies, when binding to the actual transition state of the reaction, can stabilize it and thus accelerate the reaction, acting as catalysts.

Abzymes have been developed for a wide range of chemical reactions, including ester hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction, and carbon-carbon bond formation. They offer several potential advantages over traditional enzymes. Their catalytic activity can be tailored through protein engineering, and they can be generated against a vast array of substrates, including those for which natural enzymes do not exist or are difficult to obtain. Research into abzymes continues to explore their potential applications in various fields, such as medicine, diagnostics, and biocatalysis.