Biocrystallization

The biocrystallization inhibitor chloroquine was developed in Germany in the 1930s. For 20 years Chloroquine was a "magic bullet".

Biocrystallization is the formation of crystals from organic macromolecules by living organisms.[1] This may be a stress response, a normal part of metabolism such as processes that dispose of waste compounds, or a pathology. Template mediated crystallization is qualitatively different from in vitro crystallization. Inhibitors of biocrystallization are of interest in drug design efforts against lithiasis and against pathogens that feed on blood, since many of these organisms use this process to safely dispose of heme.

  1. ^ Kachroo AH (December 2004). "Order in stress - lessons from the inanimate world" (PDF). Journal of Biosciences. 29 (4): 369–72. doi:10.1007/bf02712104. PMID 15625389. S2CID 13401792.