Scientists in the US have developed a method for successfully transporting chemotherapeutic d-peptides into the cell cytosol.
D-peptides – also known as mirror peptides, as their constituent amino acid building blocks are mirror images of the naturally occurring l-amino acids – have been an intriguing target in drug development for many years. Their unnatural stereochemistry results in high resistance to proteolytic degradation as intracellular enzymes are unable to act upon them – usually a major pathway for the destruction and removal of ‘foreign’ peptides, including those intended as therapeutic agents, in cells. However, transporting these molecules across cell membranes has been a significant barrier to their potential application.
Read the full article in Chemistry World»
Read the original journal article in Chemical Science – it’s free to access until 11th November:
Delivery of mirror image polypeptides into cells
Amy E. Rabideau, Xiaoli Liao and Bradley L. Pentelute
Chem. Sci., 2014, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C4SC02078B
