News & Comment

Enzymology has been a vital link between chemistry and biology in the second half of the twentieth century. A range of emerging scientific challenges is presenting the field with exciting opportunities to continue thriving in the future.

We present a selection of papers published in Nature Chemical Biology over the past decade that reflect the diversity and excitement of chemical biology research.

Agreeing on a precise definition of chemical biology has been a persistent challenge for the field. We asked a diverse group of scientists to “define chemical biology” and present a selection of responses.

Chemical biology may elude simple definitions, but there remains no question that chemical biologists have crafted a compelling interdisciplinary narrative that advances science and benefits society.

The pharmaceutical industry continues to experience significant attrition of drug candidates during phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical studies. We describe some questions about the characteristics of protein targets and small-molecule drugs that may be important to consider in drug-discovery projects and could improve prospects for future clinical success.

Protein aggregation is a central hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, but the relationship of aggregate structural diversity to the resultant cellular cytotoxicity and phenotypic diversity has remained obscure. Recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of protein aggregation and their physiological consequences have been achieved through chemical biology approaches, such as rationally designed protein modifications and chemical probes, providing crucial mechanistic insights and promise for therapeutic strategies for brain disorders.

Structural biology advances have democratized access to biomolecular snapshots, but high standards must be maintained to ensure their utility.