Polymeric Enzymes and Enzyme Analogs

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Abstract
Today the production and utilization of natural enzymes in processing foods, beverages, textiles, paper, pharmaceuticals, etc., has become a multimillion-dollar industry [1,2]. With the rapidly increasing knowledge of the structures and mode of action of natural enzymes, it should be possible to synthesize relatively simple molecules which would incorporate all the functional features of the natural enzyme, which would possess a catalytic efficiency equivalent to or greater than the natural enzyme, and which would remain stable over a wide range of working conditions. By linking such simple “enzyme units” into an insoluble polymeric framework, additional advantages could be realized, such as activation of the catalysis, avoidance of contamination of the substrate solution by the synthetic enzyme system, and ready filtration of the polymeric system from the solution on completion of reaction.