因之前,碰巧看到有关预测2013年诺贝尔奖名单中有表观遗传学和DNA纳米技术;故而,这周关注了一下诺贝尔奖网站的新闻发布,结果都与之无关,却在仔细阅读诺贝尔奖网站的文字时,看到一些有趣的词汇或术语,也就导致发表了一些看法。 今年化学奖,是关于计算机方法对化学分子结构和反应建立模型和模拟实验的研究工作,这也是结构生物学的基本方法,同样也是计算生物学和生物信息学的方法起点,尽管也是提到复杂系统(“multiscale models for complex chemical systems”);但是,不是计算系统生物学,系统生物学的计算机方法,属于生物系统和分子网络系统的数学模型与计算机模拟研究。 本来也不想写这篇博文;但是,新闻发布和资料里几处都提到光合作用和生物能源,故而,进行一下分析和思考与评述。假如,是我评选将会选择人工XDNA的合成或青蒿素的代谢工程,而且,代谢工程在光合作用的研究和开发已经成为合成生物学的热点。 可能,所有这些借助于计算机方法的开拓工作却是这项研究,这可能在诺贝尔奖委员会授奖来说,可能还有一个原则就是对当前和未来科学与技术研究方向的另一个方式的时代导向。 附:计算化学 - The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 was awarded jointly to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel for the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems. ( http://www.nobelprize.org/) ) 又谈起“ Aided by the methods now awarded with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, scientists let computers unveil chemical processes, such as a catalyst's purification of exhaust fumes or the photosynthesis in green leaves . ” - 能源问题是一大目标。( http://www.nobelprize.org//nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2013/press.html ) “ Put your lab coat on, because we have a challenge for you: to create artificial photosynthesis . ” ( http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2013/popular-chemistryprize2013.pdf ) -(探索与思考)-
光合作用除了将 CO 2 和水转化成糖和氧气以及能量以外,还生产大量的天然化学产物( natural chemical compounds )。但在植物进化过程中,能量生产与活性物质的合成划分成两个场所:叶绿体和内质网。前者光合作用合成 ATP 和 NADPH 以及碳水化合物。而在内质网上的 P450 单加氧酶参与生物活性物质的合成,能量来自于 NADPH 电子传递。在内质网中 NADPH 的浓度限制了次生代谢物的合成速度。 Poul Erik Jensen 等人打破进化的限制,将整条次生代谢产物合成途径转到叶绿体中,直接利用NADPH,提高了次生代谢物质的产率。该研究通过利用叶绿体中的NADPH, 直接 驱动P450快速合成天然化学物质 。 图片来源于原文 原文链接 : Redirecting Photosynthetic Reducing Power toward Bioactive Natural Product Synthesis, DOI: 10.1021/sb300128r. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/sb300128r . Abstract In addition to the products of photosynthesis, the chloroplast provides the energy and carbon building blocks required for synthesis of a wealth of bioactive natural products of which many have potential uses as pharmaceuticals. In the course of plant evolution, energy generation and biosynthetic capacities have been compartmentalized. Chloroplast photosynthesis provides ATP and NADPH as well as carbon sources for primary metabolism. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) synthesize a wide spectrum of bioactive natural products, powered by single electron transfers from NADPH. P450s are present in low amounts, and the reactions proceed relatively slowly due to limiting concentrations of NADPH. Here we demonstrate that it is possible to break the evolutionary compartmentalization of energy generation and P450-catalyzed biosynthesis, by relocating an entire P450-dependent pathway to the chloroplast and driving the pathway by direct use of the reducing power generated by photosystem I in a light-dependent manner. The study demonstrates the potential of transferring pathways for structurally complex high-value natural products to the chloroplast and directly tapping into the reducing power generated by photosynthesis to drive the P450s using water as the primary electron donor.