Recent advances in dynamic biomacromolecular modifications and chemical interventions: Perspective from a Chinese chemical biology consortium

(Press-News.org) In August 2017, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) launched the Major Research Plan “Dynamic Modifications and Chemical Interventions of Biomacromolecules” (implementation period 2017–2025). Through interdisciplinary research that integrates chemistry, life sciences, medicine, mathematics, materials science, and information science, its aim is to develop specific labeling methods and detection techniques for dynamic chemical modifications of biomacromolecules, elucidate the recognition mechanisms and biological functions of dynamic modifications in the regulation of cellular traits, and discover potential drug targets and corresponding lead compounds related to dynamic biomacromolecular modifications. Since its establishment, this Major Research Plan has achieved significant progress and original results in many aspects such as the dynamic properties of biomacromolecular chemical modifications, regulatory mechanisms, and chemical interventions. Recently, members of the expert group, management group, and secretariat of the program collaborated to systematically review representative research achievements obtained since the program’s implementation, and jointly published a review article in CCS Chemistry. This review provides important references for promoting development in related frontier fields, as well as for the future trend of integration between chemistry, life sciences, and medicine.

Background:

Dynamic biomacromolecular modifications refer to the chemical modification processes of fundamental life elements such as nucleic acids and proteins, which undergo highly dynamic changes in type, spatiotemporal distribution, and reversibility. Such modifications play key roles in physiological regulation and disease occurrence. They not only deepen the understanding of the laws of life but also provide new perspectives for elucidating disease mechanisms, discovering biomarkers and drug targets, and developing precision diagnosis and treatment strategies. In recent years, research on dynamic biomacromolecular modifications has become a hot topic internationally. New types of chemical modifications are being continuously uncovered; various regulatory factors such as modifying enzymes and demodifying enzymes are also being discovered and identified. At the same time, some dynamic chemical modifications of biomacromolecules have been proven to be closely associated with the occurrence and development of major diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Therefore, research on dynamic biomacromolecular chemical modifications also brings new opportunities for disease treatment.

However, traditional biological research models and methods still face many difficulties and limitations in addressing key issues of dynamic biomacromolecular chemical modifications. To respond to scientific development trends and research challenges, the Department of Chemical Sciences of the NSFC, together with divisions of life sciences and medicine, officially launched the Major Research Plan “Dynamic Modifications and Chemical Interventions of Biomacromolecules” in 2017, to accelerate development in this field in China. Recently, to sort out the phased achievements of this major research plan, members of the expert group, management group, and secretariat jointly published a review article in CCS Chemistry titled “Recent Advances in Dynamic Biomacromolecular Modifications and Chemical Interventions: Perspective from a Chinese Chemical Biology Consortium.”

Highlights:

This review mainly summarizes important progress achieved by Chinese research teams under the support of the major research plan, with interdisciplinary integration and innovative strategies at its core. It demonstrates how the academic community has addressed the research challenges of elucidating the mechanisms of dynamic biomacromolecular modifications and advanced the implementation of precision intervention technologies. The article, taking chemical theory, methods, and technologies as the entry point, directly tackles key scientific problems in life sciences and medicine, and showcases prominent achievements in frontier interdisciplinary research.

In particular, the review introduces newly emerging chemical tools and technologies promoted by the major research plan—tools that enable specific labeling, precise detection, and functional regulation of dynamic biomacromolecular modifications, thus providing “chemical weapons” for in-depth elucidation of modification processes. At the same time, the review systematically sorts out molecular mechanisms and biological functions of dynamic biomacromolecular modifications, elaborating representative research progress in core life processes such as gene expression regulation, cellular metabolic balance, and signal transduction pathways, and clearly outlining the key functional networks of dynamic modifications in life activities.

In addition, the article closely links basic research with practical applications, demonstrating how research teams have transformed theoretical discoveries about dynamic biomacromolecular modification mechanisms and technological results of functional small-molecule probes into potential drug targets or lead compounds. It further highlights their application potential in disease treatment, providing an important direction for driving biomedical innovation.

Summary and Outlook:

This review presents important breakthroughs and cutting-edge progresses by Chinese scholars in the field of dynamic biomacromolecular modifications, offering a Chinese perspective and key references for research in this area. It also analyzes the core challenges currently faced internationally in this field, and makes forward-looking predictions about future directions, showcasing China’s innovative vitality and robust development momentum in this domain.

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About the journal: CCS Chemistry is the Chinese Chemical Society’s flagship publication, established to serve as the preeminent international chemistry journal published in China. It is an English language journal that covers all areas of chemistry and the chemical sciences, including groundbreaking concepts, mechanisms, methods, materials, reactions, and applications. All articles are diamond open access, with no fees for authors or readers. More information can be found at https://www.chinesechemsoc.org/journal/ccschem.

About the Chinese Chemical Society: The Chinese Chemical Society (CCS) is an academic organization formed by Chinese chemists of their own accord with the purpose of uniting Chinese chemists at home and abroad to promote the development of chemistry in China. The CCS was founded during a meeting of preeminent chemists in Nanjing on August 4, 1932. It currently has more than 120,000 individual members and 184 organizational members. There are 7 Divisions covering the major areas of chemistry: physical, inorganic, organic, polymer, analytical, applied and chemical education, as well as 31 Commissions, including catalysis, computational chemistry, photochemistry, electrochemistry, organic solid chemistry, environmental chemistry, and many other sub-fields of the chemical sciences. The CCS also has 10 committees, including the Woman’s Chemists Committee and Young Chemists Committee. More information can be found at https://www.chinesechemsoc.org/. 

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