Natural Evolution of Cyclic Peptides

3D Model

Cyclic peptides have been recognised to be good starting points for drug design due to their high specificity and activity campared to many small-molecule drugs. But they are more stable and eaiser to take up inot cells than larger protein-based drugs such as antibiotics. A group basedin University of Sydney forcused on inhibitin a class of proteins called bromodomain and extrateminal domain (BET) proteins. BET has shown great promise in treating a range of cancers.

Patel et al. (2020). Cyclic peptides can engage a single binding pocket through highly divergent modes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 117, 26728-26738.