Catalytic Accelerations of 10¹²-Fold by an Enzyme-Like Synthetic Polymer

Abstract

A synthetic polymer, polyethyleneimine containing dodecyl (C₁₂H₂₅)-chains for binding sites and imidazole moieties for functional catalytic groups, catalyzes the hydrolysis of phenolic sulfate esters by a two-step mechanism resembling that of the corresponding natural enzyme. Quantitative rate studies give kinetic parameters that show that the polymer (synzyme) accelerates the rate 10¹²-fold compared to unbound imidazole, and 10²-fold compared to a type IIA aryl sulfatase enzyme.

• Michaelis-Menten kinetics
• aryl sulfatase
• nitrocatechol sulfate