Molecular Library
In biochemistry, a collection of different chemical compounds is referred to as a molecule library or a molecule pool . Molecular libraries are used, for example, to develop new drugs or diagnostics .
application
Molecular libraries are used in various biochemical processes, such as SELEX or in chemical genetics . They are mostly used for high-throughput screenings . The totality of the molecules is exposed to certain target structures ( targets ). These target structures can be, for example, enzymes , receptors or ion channels . In so-called assays , the molecules from the pool of molecules that have best bonded to the target structure are identified. These molecules can then be further chemically modified and retested. These methods are also referred to as in vitro random selection .
Before a drug is approved , various other preclinical ( animal testing ) and clinical phases follow , which can extend over several years.
background
The molecular libraries are the opposite of rational, targeted molecular design. It is a heuristic trial and error PROCEDURES ( trial & error ), which iteratively to solve the problem posed. The background is that it is not yet possible to design biomolecules with defined structures and functions in the laboratory. The knowledge about protein folds , or a prediction of the same, is completely inadequate. Likewise, there is only a rudimentary knowledge of the catalytic functions of biomolecules .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thomas Carell: Chemical Biology for Chemists - Modern Methods ( Memento of the original from July 20, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 676 kB) Philipps University, Marburg, winter semester 2000/2001.
