Enzymes and abzymes relationships

Antibodies and enzymes are proteins that bind macromolecules and small natural and synthetic ligands with high specificity and high affinity. While enzymes have been perfecting their skills during evolution to reach very efficient structures for catalysis, antibody-binding sites evolve toward efficient structures for binding in a few weeks. The generation of antibodies bearing catalytic activities (abzymes) brings new insights in the understanding on the evolution of the catalytic function, and also on functions that the immune system could play in metabolism.