Design of beta-turn based therapeutic agents

Curr Pharm Des. 2003;9(15):1209-24. doi: 10.2174/1381612033454900.

Abstract

Peptides and proteins are essential to many biological processes. The interaction between the peptide ligands and their receptor targets commonly involves beta-turn structures. Yet poor bioavailability and unfavorable pharmacokinetics significantly compromise the use of peptides as drugs. Thus, there has been a great deal of interest in the design of peptidomimetics (modified peptides) as therapeutic agents by mimicking beta-turn structures. This review highlights the importance of beta-turn in the design of various peptidomimetics for many diseases. This review also outlines several beta-turn mimicking strategies and its application in the design of potent peptide analogues. beta-turn mimetics often tend to be more rigid in positioning the critically important amino acid residues and thus optimize the surface conformation for productive interaction with the receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Mimicry
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Peptides