Chemistry Lego Pieces
Building chemical reactions is a very difficult process. Researchers in the field are limited as to what they can use as their starting reactants. They must be able to obtain the correct amount, ensure it doesn't have toxic effects, and monitor budgetary constraints. To even start the proper reaction, scientists may have to do smaller reactions to convert easier to obtain or use chemicals into the proper reactant to make their final product. An easier method for creating starting molecules could revolutionise the field of chemistry. This is where click chemistry comes into play. This new method of synthesising chemicals won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2022. Described as “building legos”, click chemistry uses a simple reaction to link 2 molecules together, making one complex molecule (1). This process is being utilised for many functions like developing drugs, creating new molecules and most recently for bio-orthogonal chemistry. This process is click chemistry being used inside living cells. Specifically, by attaching light emitting compounds to molecules found natively to the cell. This allows scientists to track molecule movement throughout the cell. This is especially useful in determining how molecules work in the context of disease and can be useful in finding effective drug treatments (1). Previously, copper was used as a catalyst to make the click reaction work, but its toxic side effects make its use in living cells void. Clicking now utilises an alkyne molecule (triple bonded molecule) that is forced into a ring structure which adds a great deal of energy. This energy allows the alkyne to explode onto a nearby azide, creating the link. Being able to click molecules in living cells will have an unprecedented amount of benefits in studying disease and illness, making it an invaluable addition to health, biology and chemistry.
References:
Fischman, J. (2022, October 5). 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded for a New Way of Building Molecules. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/2022-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-awarded-for-a-new-way-of-building-molecules2/