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Synthetic Molecules Emulate Enzyme Behavior

Posted by samzenpus on from the a-chemical-for-all-seasons dept.

FiReaNGeL writes "Ohio State University chemists have created a synthetic catalyst that can fold its molecular structure into a specific shape for a specific job, similar to natural catalysts. In tests, the chemists caused the catalysts to twist one way or the other, either to form one chemical product or its mirror image. They confirmed the shape of the molecules at each step using techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Being able to quickly produce a catalyst of a particular shape would be a boon for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries."

7 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Yay! by nhstar · · Score: 3, Funny

    maybe it'll finally be cheap enough to ~cure~ things rather than just treat 'em.

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  2. It's pronounced... by Libertarian001 · · Score: 1, Funny

    ..."nucular." Nucular.

  3. Coming soon... by BPPG · · Score: 2, Funny

    Super-powered beef cows. No hormones added.

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    What's the value of information that you don't know?
  4. I have an idea for a catalyst by Majik+Sheff · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about a catalyst that takes CO2, H2O and photon energy and converts it into sugar and oxygen? Then we could use another catalyst to convert the sugar into alcohol. *Runs off to the patent office*

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    1. Re:I have an idea for a catalyst by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      But there's a lot more to brewing drinkable beer or liquor than just feeding sugar to yeast.

      You old folk are always so picky. So long as it fucks me up, I'll drink/smoke/eat it :D

    2. Re:I have an idea for a catalyst by norpan · · Score: 2, Funny
      pfft, for beer, there're four ingredients, and one of them is water.

      Water, alcohol, taste and bubbles?

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  5. Alternate viewpoints by bperkins · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's what the Ohio State chemists find most exciting: the molecule does not maintain only one shape.

    See, that's how I'm different. They lost me at the Rockettes.