Cronin, 39, is the leader of a world-class team of 45 researchers at Glasgow University, primarily making complex molecules.
But after a while, Cronin suggests, making complex molecules for their own sake can seem a bit limiting.
The prototype, designed by researchers from the University of Glasgow, is able to follow digital instructions and choose the sequence of reactions necessary to make complex drug molecules from standard chemicals.
RNA molecules can fold up into complex structures, much like how paper can be folded to make complex origami shapes — a bird, a boat, or a flower.
A big reason is the fact that access to pure oligosaccharides from natural sources is really difficult, so chemists can make a real difference if they can come up with straightforward and automated means to make these complex molecules.
"Now that we can make these complex molecules quickly, we can hopefully facilitate the search for even better protective agents and even more effective CF therapies," said Jamison.
Yet, the main value and promise of this species (in particular, strain KT2440) resides not only in its capacity to host heterologous pathways from other microorganisms, but also altogether artificial routes (trans-metabolism) for making complex, new-to-Nature molecules.
Its ability to form stable covalent bonds with four other atoms, including another carbon atom, makes very large, complex molecules possible.
This would make them more likely to interact and form more complex molecules.
Then they'll try to pin down what these proteins do and, if they're enzymes, what complex molecules they make and whether these molecules have antibiotic or other novel properties.
