Cascade reactions in multicompartmentalized polymersomes

Abstract

Enzyme-filled polystyrene-b-poly(3-(isocyano-L-alanyl-aminoethyl)thiophene) (PS-b-PIAT) nanoreactors are encapsulated together with free enzymes and substrates in a larger polybutadiene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PB-b-PEO) polymersome, forming a multicompartmentalized structure, which shows structural resemblance to the cell and its organelles. An original cofactor-dependent three-enzyme cascade reaction is performed, using either compatible or incompatible enzymes, which takes place across multiple compartments. Mimicking cells: Enzyme-filled polystyrene-b-poly(3-(isocyano-L-alanylaminoethyl) thiophene) (PS-b-PIAT) nanoreactors have been encapsulated together with free enzymes and substrates in a larger polymersome to form a multicompartmentalized structure, which shows structural resemblance to a cell and its organelles (see picture). An original cofactor-dependent three-enzyme cascade reaction, with either compatible or incompatible enzymes, takes place across multiple compartments. Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.