Prelecionista: Nikolas E. Chaves-Silva
Orientador: Jorge L. Badel
Data: Terça, 6/5/2025, 16h
Local: Auditório do DFP, Edifício Sylvio Starling Brandão
Resumo: Chiral molecules have gained considerable attention from the scientific community lately due to the potential implications of their use in diverse biological processes. Molecules can adopt two distinct spatial conformations that are nonsuperposable and mirror images of each other, typically referred to as L and D enantiomers. Despite these two possibilities, living cells preferentially utilize organic molecules of only one enantiomer type, such as D-sugars, D-nucleotides, and L-amino acids. Recent advances in chemical methods and synthetic biology have accelerated the development of complex mirror-image macromolecules, including protein, DNA, and RNA. These advances not only have contributed to enhance our understanding of enantiomer biochemistry but also open the possibility of developing new applications for mirror molecules to solve current problems and challenges in diverse areas. Furthermore, progress in “mirror biology” points toward the creation of a fully mirrored live cell, which experts predict could become a reality within the next few decades. This fact has alarmed some members of the scientific community, who have initiated intense debates over social media and scientific publications, as well as caught the attention of traditional press media, which call for assessing the potential risks of mirrored cells. This seminar will address recent trends in mirror molecule biotechnology, the motivations behind creating mirror molecules and live cells, the approaches being currently considered to create them, some examples of their benefit, and the potential risks mirror microbes may pose to plant health. In order to contribute to a more global discussion, the ideas raised during this seminar will be shared with the international scientific community as part of the effort to debate on this emerging field; you are encouraged to contribute to the discussion.