AApeptides: From Structure to Function

The identification and development of sequence-specific peptidomimetics is of significance in bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology. A new class of peptidomimetics termed "AApeptides" was recently developed by our group. They are resistant to proteolytic degradation, and possess limitless potential to introduce chemically diverse functional groups. Moreover, they are able to fold into well-defined secondary and tertiary structures, confirmed by crystal and solution structures. They have shown premise by mimicking protein helical domains and modulate disease related protein-protein interactions. Their modular synthesis and chemical diversity also allow the development of combinatorial library for the identification of molecular ligands targeting protein with high affinity.