List of Unsolved Problems in Chemistry - Biochemistry Problems

Biochemistry Problems

  • Better-than perfect enzymes: Why do some enzymes exhibit faster-than-diffusion kinetics? See Enzyme kinetics.
  • What is the origin of homochirality in amino acids and sugars?
  • Protein folding problem: Is it possible to predict the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of a polypeptide sequence based solely on the sequence and environmental information? Inverse protein-folding problem: Is it possible to design a polypeptide sequence which will adopt a given structure under certain environmental conditions?
  • RNA folding problem: Is it possible to accurately predict the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of a polyribonucleic acid sequence based on its sequence and environment?
  • What are the chemical origins of life? How did non-living chemical compounds generate self-replicating, complex life forms?

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