A readily applicable strategy to convert peptides to peptoid-based therapeutics

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58874. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058874. Epub 2013 Mar 21.

Abstract

Incorporation of unnatural amino acids and peptidomimetic residues into therapeutic peptides is highly efficacious and commonly employed, but generally requires laborious trial-and-error approaches. Previously, we demonstrated that C20 peptide has the potential to be a potential antiviral agent. Herein we report our attempt to improve the biological properties of this peptide by introducing peptidomimetics. Through combined alanine, proline, and sarcosine scans coupled with a competitive fluorescence polarization assay developed for identifying antiviral peptides, we enabled to pinpoint peptoid-tolerant peptide residues within C20 peptide. The synergistic benefits of combining these (and other) commonly employed methods could lead to a easily applicable strategy for designing and refining therapeutically-attractive peptidomimetics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine / chemistry
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptoids / chemistry*
  • Peptoids / pharmacology
  • Peptoids / therapeutic use
  • Proline / chemistry
  • Sarcosine / chemistry

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Peptides
  • Peptoids
  • Proline
  • Alanine
  • Sarcosine